Canan Moodie is a 'proper student' of the game, says Jesse Kriel
Springbok utility back Canan Moodie looks to finally be making his transition fully into an outside centre, with the Boks now backing him as a No 13, instead of on the wing, where he has played for most of his professional career.
The 22-year-old started at fullback and on the wing for the Bulls in his first pro season in 2022, and also made his Bok debut on the wing later that year against the Wallabies, scoring a stunning try after plucking the ball out of the air ahead of Aussie stalwart Marika Koroibete and racing away.
However, Moodie played outside centre at schoolboy level, and after he made his first appearance for the Boks in the position during their memorable 35-7 hammering of the All Blacks at Twickenham ahead of the 2023 World Cup, it was more a question of when and not if he would make the switch.
Moodie himself has admitted that he prefers playing in the No 13 jumper, while former Bulls coach Jake White also said he saw his future there, and now it looks like Rassie Erasmus is going all in on him in the position.
He has played at 13 for the Bulls numerous times over the past season, and played their in the Boks' last two games, scoring tries in their wins over Italy in Gqeberha and Georgia in Mbombela.
Backup 13
At Monday's team announcement, ahead of Saturday's Test against Australia at Ellis Park, Erasmus said that he had named Moodie on the bench for this weekend's game, as backup to first choice outside centre Jesse Kriel, because Damian de Allende, who usually covers it, was out due to an injury niggle.
At a press conference on Tuesday Kriel was asked about the rise of Moodie in the position and he was full of superlatives to describe his teammate and competitive rival for the No 13 jersey.
'I think he's done an unbelievable job when he has played at centre. I don't think people realise what kind of rugby brain he has on him as well. He is a proper student of the game, and he does a lot of work behind closed doors that no one sees,' said Kriel.
'He also has an absolute engine on him. He's a great athlete that can keep working repeatedly and I think he has an unbelievable future ahead of him.
'He is someone that is a really good rugby player and a really good team man as well. So it's great to be competing and working with a guy like that. It is awesome for South African rugby.'
Although Kriel is the current first choice Bok 13, and will likely still be firmly in the mix at 33-years-old by the time the next World Cup rolls around in 2027, Moodie will be gunning to take over as the starting bolter.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
'We will have to take a step up from the Lions series to beat the Springboks', says Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt
'But for us, we are a little bit earlier in our time as a group to be focusing on anything but getting the fundamentals right, and not trying and push the boundaries too much.' 'I am an admirer of Tony; he is very innovative, so are Felix and Rassie. The three of them must have some interesting coaching meetings where they come up with good ideas. If anybody has a recording of those meetings, I'd love to get them,' Schmidt laughed. Schmidt, a New Zealander, knows former All Black Brown well, while as director of rugby at the Ireland Rugby Union, he regularly met with Munster men in Erasmus, Jones, and defence coach Jerry Flannery. Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt says he would love to be a fly on the wall when Rassie Erasmus has his coaching meetings with innovative assistants Tony Brown and Felix Jones. Erasmus, of course, pushes boundaries every week. Schmidt is mostly okay with it. 'Sometimes he stretches things a bit far, like having a guy offside at the kick-off, and that has been dealt with by World Rugby as an intentional breach of the rules. 'Rassie is a great man for testing the boundaries. And if you do that and get a tactical advantage, with the athletes he has at his disposal, why not?' The Wallabies are fresh from a colossal series against the British and Irish Lions, and Schmidt is pleased with his team's progression across the three Tests. 'We put things in place, and to polish up on detail is the plan. At least we would like to be able to do that,' he grinned. 'We would like to build after a good improvement across the Lions series. 'The thing is, the Boks have grown their game. Tony has added width to their attack. I expect them to be very strong in the set pieces, as they always are; their kick-chase game is strong; from turnovers, they have lethal finishers in (Kurt-Lee) Arendse, (Edwill) van der Merwe, and (Aphelele) Fassi. Then you have strong men in (Jesse) Kriel and (Andre) Esterhuizen. 'I remember two years ago, I was working with the All Blacks, and I watched this game between the Boks and Australia. Esterhuizen was a colossus and very difficult for the Aussies to contain.' Schmidt said he is a fan of Manie Libbok. 'I recall clearly that no-look, kick-pass of Libbok's against Scotland in the World Cup. That is the abundance of talent that they have. They can play in so many different ways. They can outmuscle you, they can outspeed you, and out-skill you. 'We have to be a lot better than we were in that last Lions Test, not just because of who we are playing but where we are.' Schmidt has made just one change to his side that beat the Lions in that last Test, recalling veteran James O'Connor at fly-half. Wallabies Team 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 James O'Connor, 9 Nic White, 8 Harry Wilson (c), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper. Bench: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 22 Tate McDermott, 23 Andrew Kellaway.
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
Abdeslam Ouaddou: Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns are the biggest clubs in Africa
Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou speaking during a press conference, Pirates will play against Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of the MTN8 semifinals at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday. Picture: Itumeleng English/ Independent Newspapers As South African football enthusiasts gear up for a monumental encounter, Orlando Pirates will go head-to-head against their fierce rivals Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of the MTN8 semi-final at the iconic Orlando Stadium tomorrow. With a full house expected, anticipation is building for what promises to be a riveting display of top-tier African football (kick-off 3pm). Speaking at the MTN8 press conference held at the Premier Soccer League headquarters in Parktown on yesterday, Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou expressed his excitement and optimism regarding the upcoming match. 'It's an exciting moment for not only the players, but for the fans as well. It's a clash of the two biggest teams not only in South Africa, but on the continent," Ouaddou remarked, reflecting the immense stature both clubs hold in African football. "We're excited and happy to play the game on Saturday, and we hope to give a good show to all the supporters in South Africa."
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
EXCLUSIVE: Jonty Rhodes aims to enhance Lions, SA cricket with IPL insights
Proteas legend and now Lions Men's and Women's High Performance and fielding coach, Jonty Rhodes, wants to impart the knowledge that he has gained working in the Indian Premier League for the past 15 years to the South Africa set-up. Earlier this year, it was announced that Rhodes would join the already stacked Lions coaching staff — one that includes former Proteas and Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo, former star Proteas batter Hashim Amla, and former Proteas fast bowling legend Allan Donald. Having spent almost two decades working in the IPL, Rhodes aims to empower the Lions' players for the betterment of South African cricket. "What I've seen with the IPL — I've done 15 out of the 18 seasons — and what we're seeing with the SA20 is that the younger the players are, from an exposure point of view to international coaches and to international players, the faster they learn, because the best place to learn is in the game, on the field," Rhodes told Independent Media in an exclusive interview. "In practice, yes, you need those processes and your skills training, but where you learn emotionally and mentally — how to handle the pressure — is on the field during the game. "So I think from that point of view, the success of the national team is important because it inspires people. But the success of the SA20, the domestic and the franchise structure — and where the Lions have been so strong — is that success breeds success. "People want to be in the team, people want to now perform and take the game to the next level. And that sort of inspiration and those sorts of role models are really important. "Because I think there's been a lot of criticism in the past about the lack of cricket at a domestic level and what the standard is like. And if I watch the players here who are not the national players — man, their skill sets are really good, and their work ethic is intense. "So that, for me, is important, because I think the players now realise that cricket is a business. You're not losing the passion, but there are no shortcuts. There is no shortcut to success because everyone is working hard. What sets you apart? And that's hopefully again a part of the experience that I can bring to the setup."
