WALKING WOUNDED: Bok injury crisis deepens with bleak prognosis for Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu

The Stormers and Bulls both face away United Rugby Championship semifinals next week, but there is bleak news for the Springboks.

Having two teams in the semifinals of the United Rugby Championship (URC) is good news for South African rugby, but the bad news is the cost that it has exacted.

Springbok flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu could be out for months if the initial worst-case scenario is realised, following a tackle during the Stormers’ 44-21 URC quarterfinal victory over Cardiff.

Bok coach Rassie Erasmus will need a good calculator as he starts to tot up the list of injured Test players just three weeks before the world champions play their first match of 2026.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu was tackled by opposite number Ioan Lloyd in the act of scoring a try in the 51st minute of the match at DHL Stadium.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu had produced a trademark dash to the line, handing off an opponent as he scooted to dot down. He was already in the in-goal area, but didn’t immediately ground the ball, and Lloyd, as he was entitled to do, never gave up the chase.

The Cardiff man made a desperate low tackle and hit Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s ankles with force. The try was scored, but the talented playmaker immediately appeared concerned.

He was duly helped off the field by the medical staff and was later seen on crutches in the bowels of the stadium.

“It looks pretty serious, to be honest,” Stormers director of rugby John Dobson said when quizzed about Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s injury after the match.

“They’re obviously going for a scan, but the doctor has given me his view, and it’s a proper ankle ligament injury.

“He was cramping a bit before then (scoring the try), and then (Ioan Lloyd) got him from behind.”

The Feinberg-Mngomezulu news will add to Erasmus’ headaches as he faces a full Test series against the All Blacks without key players.

Lock RG Snyman and flank Kwagga Smith are both out for the rest of the year with anterior cruciate ligament injuries.

Scrumhalf Morné van den Berg has a torn bicep and won’t play for up to four months. Stormers halfback Cobus Reinach is also battling a knee injury, and the prognosis is a possible July return, while lock Lood de Jager had hip surgery and is not expected to return before August.

The casualty list does not end there, though. Eben Etzebeth, Deon Fourie and Bongi Mbonambi are all out, and their return-to-play status is unclear.

Pieter Steph du Toit is recovering from shoulder surgery and is expected back by late May or early June 2026.

Aphelele Fassi (fullback) is in rehabilitation from shoulder surgery and i