Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been dubbed as the best fly-half in the world right now, but Eddie Jones warns that he doesn’t fit the traditional mold of a World Cup-winning number 10.

The 24-year-old has been the go-to selection in the playmaking role for the Springboks this year after making a timely return from injury to start all four of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test matches against the All Blacks.

He then came off the bench in the defeat to Australia before starting in the 66-7 victory over Italy in November’s Nations Championship opening weekend. Feinberg-Mngomezulu put in a fine display against the Azzurri, converting all nine tries, including the one he scored, as well as a penalty.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu crowned the best fly-half in the world

Reacting to that performance in Turin, legendary Welsh fly-half Dan Biggar said that Feinberg-Mngomezulu is the best number 10 in the world right now but added that the real challenge for the playmaker is whether he can continue that form through to and during next year’s Rugby World Cup.

“He was spectacular,” Biggar said on ITV Sports’ The Debrief show, reviewing the Springboks‘ victory over Italy.

“Is he going to come up against better opposition who challenge him in more ways? Absolutely, but this was a game where he was able to showcase all his talent: his pace, his power, his finishing ability. The stats speak for themselves: 26 points, defenders beaten, line breaks, 50/22s, assists.

“For me, he is the best 10 in the world currently. He’s got everything. There isn’t a weakness in his game. I suppose the big thing for him now is, can he deliver in 12 months’ time in a World Cup given what the previous guy [Handre Pollard] in that jersey has done in the previous two World Cups?”

Biggar was joined on the show by Japan head coach Jones who didn’t give his verdict on whether he agreed with the former fly-half’s opinion. However, he did state that Feinberg-Mngomezulu doesn’t fit the traditional bill of a World Cup-winning number 10.

While the Springbok is a great player, according to Jones, he isn’t a ‘tradesman-like’ operator, perhaps referring to the likes of Pollard and even Jonny Wilkinson.

“I reckon one of the interesting things. I’m not arguing one way or the other, but if you look at the history of World Cup winners, the 10s have always been generally tradesmen-like 10s,” the ex-England boss explained.

“They’ve very rarely been brilliant players. Like he is brilliant, he can do things other people can’t do. There have been people who play the percentage as well, do the one odd, brilliant thing, but generally they’re really solid players.

“So it goes against the history of the World Cup, but new history is happening all the time and he has certainly got the skill set. Physically, he’s a big guy; it gives him a great advantage. He has got a great kicking game, so there’s no reason why he can’t be.”

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Springboks centres

Jones was also asked about the Springboks’ centre combination, with Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel remaining Rassie Erasmus’ preferred pairing for much of his tenure.

While the duo are excellent midfielders, neither is really a traditional playmaker who could aid Feinberg-Mngomezulu with the playmaking duties but Jones highlighted their real strengths.

“If you look at the Springboks, De Allende and Jesse Kriel, they must have played  60 Tests together and they won probably 55 of 60, and they both basically play like fast back-rowers,” he explained.

“They’re hard at the breakdown, great defenders, carry hard, so that’s one way of doing it. Or you saw England play basically [Henry] Slade as a second receiver. I think you can do it both ways but, to play off a second receiver, you’ve got to have great set-piece ball.”