Canan Moodie - Paarls newest Emerald

On Saturday, 3 Septermber 2022, Canan Moodie will become the second youngest player to start for the Springboks. He will be the first teenager to don the Green and Gold since Frans Steyn, nearly 16-years ago.

Moodie won’t be the first debutant of 2022 to provide coverage on the wing. In fact, he won’t even be the first baller from Paarl to make his Springbok debut this year. Which leads to the question – What are they feeding the kids in the Boland?

Drakenstein Delights

2022 already saw Kurt-lee Arendse earn a maiden call-up to the Springbok group. Another man who grew up in the shadows of the Drakenstein mountains with a monumental future at Test rugby level. The 26-year-old from Paulus Joubert Secondary School replaced Cheslin Kolbe after the World Cup-winning wing broke his jaw in the third and final test of the Wales series.

Arendse held his own against the All Blacks in Mbombela. Unfortunately, Arendse had to take an early shower after playing Beauden Barrett in the air. That horrible incident saw Arendse pick up a four-match ban. This weekend’s test match will be the fourth.

Since that Rugby Championship opener, at the start of August, the coaches have been scrambling to find proper coverage on the right wing.

After they played Jesse Kriel and Warrick Gelant out of position, Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has now cast that role to the youngest player in his group, Canan Moodie.

“He was in tears, man. It’s a massive thing for a young boy,” Jake White

NEW VIDEO: I've clipped up highlights of winger Canan Moodie, who will make his debut for South Africa this Saturday against Australia!

Full Video: https://t.co/oTZT622oze pic.twitter.com/Cfm1xA7y2o

— Andrew Forde (@andrewfrugby) August 30, 2022

Nurtured by a World Cup-winner

The 19-year-old enjoyed a break-out season with the Bulls in the inaugural United Rugby Championship (URC) competition, where the World Cup-winning coach, Jake White, was quick to see his worth.

“He’s got everything and, to be fair, he’s actually a centre and that’s the irony of the whole thing. He’s playing wing and full-back but he’s actually a 13,” White told Sport24.

Moodie received the call-up to the Bok team just a few weeks ago.

“He was at training and the next thing we got a call saying we’ve got to send him to the Boks,” White said.

“Going to see him and telling him that he’s been picked into the Springbok side makes coaching so worthwhile for us. He was in tears, man. It’s a massive thing for a young boy.”

Frans Steyn has now been in Springbok squads with Johan Ackermann (52) and Canan Moodie (19) 🤯 pic.twitter.com/FzCYL58oRN

— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) August 9, 2022

“But he’s got it. The one thing about him is, on Saturday morning, we’d just started pre-season and he was running on his own, doing a bleep test, trying to get fit on his own. Nobody asked him, but he was putting in extras. That’s the sort of guy he is.”

White said that the experience in the Bulls team has helped young Moodie immensely.

“Guys like Lionel Mapoe, Cornal Hendricks, and Harold Vorster are very good for him, too, because they help him understand what he’s got to do,” said White.

“That’s one of the reasons I wasn’t scared to put him in because I’ve got good senior players around him.”

Jake White just has an eye for talent, and he’s certain that Moodie will accomplish great things in the Springbok jersey.

“He’s going to make it … he’s going to play 100 Tests for South Africa,” said White.

So proud of this young man!! On Saturday he becomes the 2nd youngest @Springboks since 1995. pic.twitter.com/OYtAF9jXR5

— Oloff Bergh (@Oloff17) September 1, 2022

Oloff Bergh coached young Canan Moodie during his Boland Landbou years.

Boland grafter

Moodie has already impressed since joining the Bok group and could become a vital tool in Jacques Nienaber’s arsenal.

“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,” said Nienaber at the team announcement conference on Tuesday.

🇿🇦 The Springbok team to face Australia in Sydney tomorrow. #StrongerTogether #StrongerForever #CastleRugbyChampionship #AUSvRSA pic.twitter.com/TueQJMLQZ8

— Springboks (@Springboks) September 2, 2022

“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.

“He is a very coachable guy and obviously has got the skills. 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. I’m very excited to see him.”

These 2 were insanely ridiculously outstanding tonight,pity bout Kurt-Lee’s timing re the last tackle,hope him and Beauden are ok,sadly he’ll miss next week,who do we pick at 14 next week?Canan Moodie perhaps😅your thoughts?? pic.twitter.com/uQrqh1KcRN

— Breyton Paulse (@BreytonPaulse) August 6, 2022

A man who owned the Green and Gold fourteen for some time, Breyton Paulse was advocating for Moodies inclusion weeks ago.

Canan hails from Boland Landbou and has his feet planted firmly on the ground. Both defensively and spiritually. Running with the ball, one could never tell that he is just nineteen years old. But, if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.