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The 'mature' reason why Springboks named 19-year-old wing Moodie

(Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber is backing the Test debut-making Canan Moodie to make his mark when he runs out wearing the No14 shirt against the Wallabies in round four of the Rugby Championship this Saturday in Sydney. The 19-year-old is the fifth different player the Springboks have selected at right wing in sevens matches during 2022 and he gets his chance after it was decided to bench Warrick Gelant, last weekend’s starter in that position.

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The Springboks began the year with the first-choice Cheslin Kolbe occupying the role versus Wales in Pretoria. Kurt-Lee Arendse, the 26-year-old from the Bulls, was tasked with getting his debut the following week versus the Welsh in Bloemfontein and after the position reverted to Kolbe for the July series decider in Cape Town, it was thought that the 2019 World Cup winner would keep hold of the jersey for the Rugby Championship.

That, however, hasn’t been the case as Kolbe’s fractured jaw in the series-clinching win over Wales instead sparked a Championship merry-go-round with the jersey. Arendse was named against the All Blacks in Mbombela but he was red-carded and suspended following his collision with the airborne Beauden Barrett.

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This resulted in Jesse Kriel being named at No14 for the rematch in Johannesburg but his appearance was quickly cut short by a concussion. The next man up was Gelant, who was chosen to start versus the Wallabies in Adelaide, and now it will be the turn of Moodie to start at right wing after he was named as one of eight changes to the Springboks team for this weekend’s round four Championship game.

Aside from being a Test level rookie, he is a club professional rookie as well as he has only made 18 appearances for the Bulls so far, 14 in the URC and another four in the Currie Cup. He caught the eye, though, in the Bulls’ famed URC semi-final ambush of Leinster in Dublin in June, scoring in that game to help his team through to the final.

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Moodie was called into the Springboks squad on August 8 following the confirmation of the four-game suspension for Arendse and he is now primed for his Test debut less than four weeks later. “We are excited to get him in the mix,” enthused Nienaber over a Microsoft Teams media briefing from Australia after he named his team to take on the Wallabies in Sydney.

“He had an awesome series in the URC and we followed him closely and we are excited to see him put his skill set into a Test match. He has been with us I think a month and we are really happy to see his progress within the team and how comfortable he became in the team.

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“He is a very coachable guy. He has obviously got the skills and I’m very excited to see him. When you work with him you won’t say he is a 19-year-old. He is very mature for his age and he has got a good rugby maturity and a good rugby brain on him.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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