Nick Mallett believes that Yaqeen Ahmed will offer the Springboks something different from Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who has one frustrating aspect in his game.

Ahmed has been included as one of six uncapped players in Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks squad for the November leg of the Nations Championship after a handful of appearances for the Stormers.

He was also the go-to selection for Kevin Foote during the Junior Boks’ World Championship matches before missing the final, with Luan Giliomee taking over the role in his absence – another one of the newbies in the touring squad.

With Handre Pollard missing this international window through injury, Ahmed and Giliomee have been included as the fly-half options and will compete with the settled options of Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Manie Libbok during November, with South Africa facing off against Italy, France and Ireland before the finals weekend.

Nick Mallett’s verdict on Springboks call-up

Mallett believes that this is a ‘fantastic opportunity’ for the young players to experience what it is like touring with the national team, even if they don’t manage to earn their Test debuts.

The former Springboks head coach spent time in the Stormers camp last season and got a close look at Ahmed in particular, and the rookie playmaker certainly impressed him.

Appearing on the Talking Boks podcast with South African journalists Brenden Nel and Gavin Rich, Mallett sang Ahmed’s praises and pinpointed the strengths in his game while comparing him to Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

“I had a bit of time in the Stormers camp just having a look at what they were doing, and he was very impressive – he’s a no-frills fly-half,” the ex-Italy head coach began.

“He doesn’t make many mistakes; he’s got great hands and a very good kicking game. He’s physical, takes it to the line, and he tackles well; he puts his body on the line. He probably needs a little bit of work on communication.

“When you’re a young guy coming into a senior professional side, you don’t want to start shouting your mouth off too much, but a fly-half has to talk a lot, has to direct his pack, and he’s nine, and he has to demand the players outside him – give them communication as well. So, he’s still got a little bit to learn there, but wow, he’s a good rugby player. He really is.”

Where Ahmed differs from Feinberg-Mngomezulu

Mallett added that he isn’t as flashy as Feinberg-Mngomezulu but highlighted a strength in his game which is a cause of frustration for the latter. While he did criticise an aspect of Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s game, he still praised the man who is likely to be the Springboks’ first-choice fly-half next month.

“He is a little bit different from Sacha in that I probably think he would stick to a game plan, a controlled game plan, better than Sacha,” he explained.

“Sacha has this ability to break a game up and beat three or four players on his own, and I think Ahmed is more direct.

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“Ahmed is certainly able to take it to the line. He’s got very good feet, but I think he’s a guy who will stick to a game plan probably better than Sacha. It’s one thing that we all know is that Sacha needs to learn. He’s got no individual weakness, Sacha, but his ability to stick within a game plan is one that can be quite frustrating for him because sometimes he’s kicking these up and unders that the team requires and he feels, hang on a sec, maybe if things go well, I could actually break the line here.

“It is difficult when you’ve got the speed and the talent and the strength that he has. But there’s no doubt that Ahmed has got all-round skills. He really has; he’s got very, very good game awareness and a beautiful passing game. So, he’s going to be someone who the Stormers can really rely on when they rest Sacha and put him into the side and they can be confident that he’s going to do a really good job of work.”