Nick Mallett Says Yaqeen Ahmed Follows Game Plans Better Than Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
- Former Springboks coach Nick Mallett shared his verdict on uncapped Stormers fly-half Yaqeen Ahmed after observing him in training
- Mallett compared Ahmed directly to Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, identifying a key difference in how each playmaker approaches a game plan
- Ahmed is one of six uncapped players named in Rassie Erasmus' squad for the November Nations Championship leg
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Former Springboks head coach Nick Mallett has weighed in on the inclusion of Stormers fly-half Yaqeen Ahmed in Rassie Erasmus' squad for the November Nations Championship window, backing the uncapped youngster while also identifying a persistent frustration in Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's game.
Ahmed is among six uncapped players called up for South Africa's matches against Italy, France and Ireland ahead of the finals weekend. With Handré Pollard ruled out through injury, Ahmed and Luan Giliomee join Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Manie Libbok as the available fly-half options.
Mallett's Assessment of Ahmed
Mallett spent time in the Stormers camp last season and observed Ahmed closely. Speaking on the Talking Boks podcast alongside journalists Brenden Nel and Gavin Rich, the former coach described Ahmed as a complete but unflashy operator.
"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," Mallett said.
He noted that Ahmed still has some development to do in terms of communication, saying a fly-half must direct those around him, but concluded:
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"Wow, he's a good rugby player. He really is."
Mallett called the November tour a "fantastic opportunity" for the young players involved, even for those who may not earn a Test debut during the window.
Where Ahmed and Feinberg-Mngomezulu Differ
Mallett drew a clear distinction between Ahmed's approach and that of Feinberg-Mngomezulu. While he praised Feinberg-Mngomezulu as having "no individual weakness," he pointed to game-plan discipline as an area where Ahmed holds an edge.
"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," Mallett 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."
He acknowledged that Feinberg-Mngomezulu's instinct to deviate from the structured plan stems from his exceptional talent rather than a lack of awareness.
On Ahmed's broader value to the Stormers beyond the international window, Mallett added:
"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."
Ahmed previously served as the Junior Boks' first-choice fly-half at the World Rugby U20 Championship, stepping in after Vusi Moyo was called into the senior squad by Erasmus during the July internationals.
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Source: Briefly News
