Canan Moodie in action against the Stormers. Photo: BackpagePix
LATEST: Why Boks are backing teenage star Moodie
Rising star Canan Moodie is said to have the potential to earn ‘100 caps’ for the Boks, and a Test debut now beckons in Australia.
Canan Moodie in action against the Stormers. Photo: BackpagePix
The Boks have unveiled a 34-man squad for the Australian leg of the Rugby Championship, with the uncapped Canan Moodie earning a call-up for his first tour in a settled national squad.
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Moodie, who was called up to the squad as utility back cover following the suspension handed to wing Kurt-Lee Arendse for a dangerous tackle, is the only uncapped player in the group and will travel with the Springboks for the first time, providing cover at wing and fullback.
His presence also fills the void left by Cheslin Kolbe, who is on the road to recovery from a broken jaw, which will see him only return for the last Test against Argentina.
Jesse Kriel will also have to see out a period of rest and recuperation after suffering a concussion, and so the Boks will need to make another big call on the right wing when it comes to their next Tests.
With Kolbe injured and Arendse seeing out a suspension, Warrick Gelant may be backed on the wing, or young Moodie could be another left-field option.
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Interestingly, coach Jacques Nienaber ‘name-dropped’ Moodie as a possible like-for-like replacement.
“We are also excited to see how Canan slots in during the next few weeks and to see how he adapts to our structures and systems, and we believe he has the skills to slot in for Kurt-Lee and Cheslin,” the Bok coach commented.
Meanwhile, Bulls coach Jake White has reiterated his belief that Canan Moodie will play ‘100 Tests’ for South Africa.
“Canan is one of the best players I’ve ever coached. He’s only 19 but he’s way more mature than that. He’s got everything. He’s actually a centre and that’s the irony of the whole thing. He’s playing wing and fullback but he’s actually a 13. Many great players such as Ma’a Nonu and Jaque Fourie started as wings and fullbacks and ended up being great centres.
“He’s going to make it … he’s going to play 100 Tests for South Africa.”
Elsewhere in the Bok squad, with Bongi Mbonambi (hooker) ruled out for four weeks after suffering a knee injury at training last week, Deon Fourie will serve as back-up to Malcolm Marx and Joseph Dweba, while Damian Willemse’s versatility in the backline will see provide cover at flyhalf, centre and fullback.
Notably, Stormers star Evan Roos has not been included in the touring group, while Cobus Reinach has recovered from injury and will add another option at scrumhalf.
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BOKS TOURING SQUAD:
Props
Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers)
Vincent Koch (Wasps)
Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers)
Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks)
Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92)
Hookers
Joseph Dweba (DHL Stormers)
Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears)
Locks
Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks)
Lood de Jager (Wild Knights)
Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers)
Loose forwards
Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz)
Siya Kolisi (Cell C Sharks)
Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls)
Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs)
Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers)
Duane Vermeulen (Ulster)
Utility forwards
Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers)
Franco Mostert (Honda Heat)
Scrumhalves
Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles)
Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks)
Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers)
Cobus Reinach (Montpellier)
Flyhalves
Elton Jantjies (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes)
Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers)
Midfielders
Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks)
Damian de Allende (Wild Knights)
Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins)
Outside backs
Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks)
Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz)
Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls)
Warrick Gelant (Racing 92)
Utility Backs
Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers)
Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles)
Frans Steyn (Toyota Cheetahs)
