Rassie's radar | Who leads the Springboks' flyhalf race ahead of the international season?

As Rassie Erasmus looks ahead to the 2026 international season, the Springbok flyhalf stocks are as healthy as they have ever been.

While the double World Cup cycle was defined by the contrasting styles of Handre Pollard and Manie Libbok, the current landscape has shifted. With veterans returning home and young prodigies ascending from starting roles to captaincy, the competition for the No 10 jersey has reached unprecedented levels.

Here are the four domestic contenders currently lighting up the United Rugby Championship, and a maverick turning on the style in Japan.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers)

The Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu era has officially begun, as he is starting to blossom into a commanding, world-class pivot. Having captained the Stormers for the first time in January, the 23-year-old is a proven match-winner and a player who likes to take the game by the scruff of the neck with his peerless running ability and siege-gun boot. However, he sometimes tries to do too much on his own, and the next challenge in his growth path will be to find a way to bring his teammates into the game more consistently.

Handre Pollard (Bulls)

The most significant domestic storyline heading into the new season was Pollard’s return to Loftus Versfeld. He had a tough start to life back in Pretoria, with critics pointing out a failure to adapt to new coach Johan Ackermann’s expansive game plan. However, since the Bulls moved back to a more forward-orientated approach, the double World Cup winner has shown his class. Like a true veteran, he is likely to come into his own as the play-offs approach.

Jordan Hendrikse (Sharks)

After a rather slow start to the season, Hendrikse has revitalised his international aspirations with two top displays in the Sharks’ recent outings against the Stormers. He showed off his sharp running skills as well as an educated boot. At 1.88m, he offers a physical profile similar to Pollard but with a more expansive offloading game. Hendrikse is making a very loud case to return to the Bok fold.

Chris Smith (Lions)

Perhaps the most underrated flyhalf in the country, Chris Smith has found a new lease of life at the Lions. Since moving to Ellis Park, Smith has become the Johannesburg side’s Mr Dependable, and shone in a recent victory over the Bulls. While Smith lacks the "X-factor" of Feinberg-Mngomezulu or the pedigree of Pollard, he is the quintessential percentage player — a reliable tactical presence for any coach.

Manie Libbok (Hanazono Kintetsu Liners)

Despite playing in the second tier of Japan’s League One, Manie Libbok remains a central figure in the Bok conversation. While the level of competition in Japan is often questioned, Libbok’s 100% kicking success rate in recent matches and his supreme playmaking skills—with ball in hand and both feet—show he hasn’t lost a step. He provides that "chaos factor" that coach Rassie Erasmus loves to unleash against tired defences.