Butch James backs Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu to lead, with Handré Pollard still in the Springbok mix

According to SA Rugby Mag, former Springbok flyhalf Butch James believes Handré Pollard is still far from finished in green and gold, even as the national team’s flyhalf picture continues to change. His view is simple enough: Pollard may no longer be the automatic first name on the team sheet, but he remains an important part of the Springboks’ World Cup plans for next year in Australia.

That position comes with real weight because Pollard has already done the job on the biggest stage. SA Rugby Mag notes that he was central to South Africa’s back-to-back World Cup triumphs in 2019 and 2023, stepping up in the last two semi-finals and finals to help close out those campaigns. For a player whose value has often been measured by what he does under pressure, that history still carries a lot of significance.

At the same time, the report shows why the discussion around flyhalf has shifted. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has emerged and brought a new attacking edge to the Bok backline, which has pushed Pollard into a more limited role since the World Cup-winning years. In other words, this is not a case of one player failing and another replacing him outright. It is more about the team having more options and a different shape to its attack.

James, speaking to IOL as quoted by SA Rugby Mag, says that is exactly why Pollard should not be discarded. In his view, Pollard’s temperament is one of his biggest assets. He sees him as calm, experienced and knowledgeable, the sort of player who can still come on and do the job when needed. The former Bok flyhalf also says Pollard still looks physically sharp and capable of running around at a high level.

But James is equally clear about where he sees the balance right now. If South Africa are choosing a starting flyhalf as the Boks continue to evolve their style, he wants Feinberg-Mngomezulu in the No 10 jersey first. Pollard, in his view, would be the next option if injury or circumstances force a change, while Manie Libbok would sit behind them as another strong alternative. That is a notable ranking because it recognises both the present and the past: the younger, more expansive option first, but a proven World Cup winner still firmly in the conversation.

The broader message in the SA Rugby Mag piece is that the Springboks are in a fortunate position. Few teams have three flyhalves that can plausibly be discussed as senior international options. James calls all three outstanding choices for the jersey, which suggests the competition is less about finding a replacement and more about deciding how best to use each player.

For South African rugby followers, that matters because the flyhalf position has often carried extra pressure in this country. It is the role that shapes territory, controls tempo and often decides tight matches. When the Springboks have won the biggest prizes, they have needed both reliability and control as well as the ability to attack with purpose. Pollard and Feinberg-Mngomezulu represent those qualities in different ways, which is why James’ assessment is so interesting.

SA Rugby Mag’s report does not frame this as an either-or debate. Instead, it presents Pollard as a proven veteran whose role may change but whose importance has not disappeared, while Feinberg-Mngomezulu stands as the preferred starter in the current phase of Bok evolution. In that sense, the article underlines a familiar strength of the Springbok setup: the ability to keep experienced winners in the squad while giving new talent room to take over.

If nothing else, James’ view is a reminder that selection at flyhalf is not only about form. It is also about trust, experience and how a player fits into the team’s bigger plan. Pollard remains a trusted option because he has already delivered when the stakes were highest. Feinberg-Mngomezulu, meanwhile, is the player James wants starting as South Africa continues to develop its attack.