Canan Moodie looked rusty on his return to the Springboks side against the All Blacks in Cape Town. He didn’t quite look like his normal self.
Moodie was out for several months before that after suffering a fractured finger in the United Rugby Championship playoffs, and only played a couple of Currie Cup matches for the Bulls ahead of that Test.
It was a frustrating time for the 2023 Rugby World Cup winner, and he was taken off at halftime against the All Blacks after being caught out of position quite a few times and making uncharacteristic mistakes.
However, the Paarl-born utility back, who has had a breakout few years, is getting back to his sharp best with the Bulls in the URC, and is again starting to look the player who ran defences ragged before his injury.
When there’s a will there's a way 💪
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) October 5, 2024
Canan Moodie powers through the defence for the score ⚡️@Vodacom #URC | #BULvULS pic.twitter.com/q7H7Zx8jn6
“It’s not been the easiest of years for me, with injuries,” Moodie said.
“It’s been about learning from this year as much as I can, and through adversity pushing through … making sure I’m a better player after this year.”
Moodie will again be at centre for the Bulls against the Ospreys on Satursay after also starting in the No 13 jersey in their win against Ulster last weekend.
It’s a position where we could see a lot more of Moodie, who has mostly featured on the wing for both the Bulls and the Springboks over the last few years.
Moodie, who played centre at school at Boland Landbou, started in the position against the All Blacks at Twickenham last year before the World Cup and impressed with and without the ball.
He really marshalled that outside channel, which is considered to be the most difficult channel to defend, with a lot of ease and intelligence. On attack, his silky hands and feet, makes him a dangerous customer to defend against.
That was delicious by Canan Moodie 🔥 #RSAvNZL pic.twitter.com/yPpcLAk7DB
— Darren (@SaffasRugby) August 25, 2023
It also helps that he is learning best from two of the very best centres in the world, with fellow World Cup winners Jesse Kriel and Lukhanyo Am setting a fine example for the 21-year-old flyer.
“I played centre at school and it’s a position I love to play,” Moodie said.
“I got a taste of it at the World Cup and in a few games with the Springboks so I’m fairly comfortable with it now playing centre for the Bulls. I’ve learned a lot from Jesse and Lukhanyo … That’s just helped me grow at centre, and hopefully I continue that with the Bulls.
“At school I wasn’t the biggest kid, I was a small scrawny little centre and guys were always coming at me so I had to toughen up to make my hits,” Moodie added.
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