Canan Moodie is regarded as one of the most talented young South African players. Photo: SA Rugby website
WATCH: Rassie all smiles as Moodie gets stuck in at training
This Saturday, all eyes will be on Springbok debutant Canan Moodie, who has been training under the watchful eye of the national coaches.
Canan Moodie is regarded as one of the most talented young South African players. Photo: SA Rugby website
It was confirmed on Tuesday that injuries and the desire to try a few new player combinations have led Bok head coach Jacques Nienaber to include eight new players in the starting team for this weekend’s rematch against Australia. Notably, 19-year-old Moodie will earn his first start on the right wing in a positional switch with Warrick Gelant.
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Moodie, a former Junior Springbok star, has enjoyed a meteoric rise after impressing for the Bulls at senior level, with coach Jake White even suggesting that he has the talent to go on and earn a century of national caps.
“He and his family can be unbelievably proud. He’s making his international debut at 19. It’s fantastic,” said coach Nienaber this week.
“He truly deserves it. Here’s a young man who’s deserved his call-up because of the way he performed at the Bulls. Canan worked hard, got an opportunity and took it with both hands. That’s how we took notice of him. We’re really proud of him making his debut too.
“Canan’s been with us for a month now. He’s very coachable and makes absolutely sure that he knows all his detail,” added Nienaber. “He might be 19, but he’s unbelievably matured in our rugby environment. I really hope he has a successful debut.”
In a clip shared to social media, Bok director of rugby Rassie Erasmus looks almost like a proud dad as he takes Moodie through a few tackle-bag training drills.
Erasmus, who is able to be part of the Boks’ training weeks – but can’t be present on match-days due to his ongoing World Rugby ban – will certainly be hoping that Moodie can make a big impression on debut.
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Moodie is part of an experienced Bok team:
15 – Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 76 caps, 65 pts (13t)
14 – Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls) – uncapped
13 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 53 caps, 60 pts (12t)
12 – Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 63 caps, 35 pts (7t)
11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks) – 30 caps, 105 pts (21t)
10 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 21 caps, 12 pts (1t, 2c, 1p)
9 – Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks) – 7 caps, 5 pts (1t)
8 – Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 15 caps, 0 pts
7 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 56 caps, 5pts (1t)
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Cell C Sharks) – 68 caps, 35 pts (7t)
5 – Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 61 caps, 25 pts (5t)
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks) – 103 caps, 15 pts (3t)
3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 51 caps, 5 pts (1t)
2 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 52 caps, 55 pts (11t)
1 – Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) – 64 caps, 5 pts (1t)
Replacements:
16 – Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers) – 1 cap, 0pts
17 – Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks) – 12 caps, 0pts
18 – Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92) – 57 caps, 5pts (1t)
19 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 24 caps, 15 pts (3t)
20 – Duane Vermeulen (Ulster) – 63 caps, 15 pts (3t)
21 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 21 caps, 40pts (8t)
22 – Frans Steyn (Toyota Cheetahs) – 75 caps, 150 pts (11t, 7c, 24p, 3d)
23 – Warrick Gelant (Racing 92) – 11 caps, 15 pts (3t)
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Springbok record against the Wallabies in Australia:
Played 42; Won 12; Lost 28; Drawn 2; Points for: 702, Points against: 925; Tries scored 82, Tries conceded 94; Highest score 38-12 in Brisbane (2013); Biggest win 26 points in Brisbane (2013). Win % 28,6%.
Milestones:
- Malcolm Marx is the top try scorer in the squad against Australia with three tries in seven Test matches.
- Siya Kolisi has played 38 Tests as captain, making him the second most capped Springbok captain behind John Smit, who led the team in 83 Tests.
Miscellaneous:
- The total Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is
- There are 257 caps in the backline with 470 caps amongst the forwards. On the bench there are a further 264
- The average caps per player in the backline are 36, the forwards 58, while the players on the bench average 33.
