VIDEO: Moodie opens up about playing centre

VIDEO: Bulls utility back Canan Moodie has spoken out about all the hype on playing centre and switching around in the backline.

The Springbok fielded questions from Wales where the Bulls are preparing for their clash with Ospreys in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday.

After his sterling performance at centre for the Bulls against Ulster at Loftus Versfeld last weekend, Jake White, the Director of Rugby at the Bulls, spoke highly of Moodie and predicted that his road with the Springboks could be at centre.

Moodie, acknowledging that he had been asked this a lot the last few days, said centre is a position very familiar to him and one that he loves playing.

“I played centre at school so it is a position I love to play,” Moodie explained.

“I got a taste of it at the World Cup in a few games for the Springboks. I am fairly comfortable with it now playing centre for the Bulls.

“For me, it is about being comfortable wherever I play, and playing centre is where I can do that.

“I’ve learned a lot from Jesse [Kriel] and Lukhanyo [Am] and all those guys that play centre at the Boks at training and see what these guys can do.

“Just learning from them as much as I can and that has helped me to grow in that position and hopefully I can do the same for the Bulls,” Moodie said.

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He says the outside noise around the positions he is playing, has been distracting, but he works hard to focus on his game and preparations every week.

“It is very tough but I’ve tried to quiet the external things.

“I’ve tried to focus more on what I need to do on the field.

“That is what has helped me – doing the extra things on what I need to do to prepare for a Saturday.”

He revealed that is has been tough on him to switch positions in the backline so regularly. The young Bok turns 22 in November.

“It was tough switching from centre to wing, and then fullback and all those positions.

“But in a week you prepare accordingly, so whether I play centre or wing, I prepare, make sure I watch the clips I need to, certain drills and work-ons I need to do in the week.

“Getting confidence from coaches and staff supporting me has also helped.”

White said he was proud of Moodies’ performance and never got worried when the action got close to the centre, even mentioning that the youngster is one of the best tacklers he has ever coached.

Moodie smiled when hearing this, saying it is something he prides himself on and comes from his days as a scrawny kid on the pitch.

“From school I wasn’t the biggest kid, I was a scrawny little centre. With guys always coming at me, I had to toughen up.

“So it’s come from school days, not to back down to hit the big boys.

“It is something I work hard on and pride myself on.

“It’s a big part of my game, being good at defence and pivotal at centre.”

When there’s a will there’s a way 💪

Canan Moodie powers through the defence for the score ⚡️@Vodacom #URC | #BULvULS pic.twitter.com/q7H7Zx8jn6

— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) October 5, 2024