VIDEO: Bok No.13 jersey possibly Moodie's best bet
SPOTLIGHT: Canan Moodie put up an immaculate display of centre play against Ulster on Saturday and there is no reason why the Bulls utility cannot grab the No. 13 Springbok jersey.
Moodie was exceptional at Loftus, combining comfortably with David Kriel in midfield, also scoring one of the Bulls’ tries.
Last year he was a surprise inclusion in the midfield when the Springboks named their team to face New Zealand at Twickenham following an injury to Lukhanyo Am.
Looking at the current outside backs in the Springbok set-up, it becomes apparent that centre is probably the position where Moodie can be fast-tracked much sooner.
The current crop of centres are all 30 and over and might not be the first choice centres come the 2027 World Cup.
Damien de Allende is 32, Am 30, Jesse Kriel 30, Andre Esterhuizen 30.
Moodie is 21 years old.
When there’s a will there’s a way 💪
Canan Moodie powers through the defence for the score ⚡️#BKTURC #URC | #BULvULS pic.twitter.com/4RzD9bkGWY
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) October 5, 2024
Am was so good over the last few seasons that there were hardly any other candidates for the No.13 jumper.
On Saturday the Bulls’ Director of Rugby Jake White hinted that Moodie might focus more on outside centre rather than wing, where talent is abundant.
“In the long term, I think that is what he will do.
“If you look at the outside backs in South Africa, and me being fair to him, it’s probably the position I think he can get fast-tracked as quickly as possible.
“Defensively today [Saturday], every time they went defensively towards him, I didn’t panic.
“He is a very good defender. He is actually one of the best tacklers I have coached,” White revealed.
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The word versatility has been thrown around a lot recently and it is a word that Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus especially loves using.
White referred to that, saying it is to a player’s advantage to cover various positions, something Moodie can do with ease.
“The one thing we have seen with the Springboks, and it is not something we are trying to do because of that, is versatility is massive.
“When I saw Canan after the game I told him well done.
“Him and David are both good ball players, they are both tall guys, they can stand up in the tackle, they defend incredibly well, they are quick for inside backs because both have played on the outside before.
“It is something that I will have to settle on going forward.
“But it is also injury dependent and who we rotate.
“A guy with his age that can play 13, 14, 15 – that’s an incredible skill and attribute to have in a country like this,” the coach commented.
