Springbok shooting star Canan Moodie will get his first opportunity since before the Rugby World Cup to run out at 13, as the Vodacom Bulls shuffled their squad for their Vodacom United Rugby Championship match against the Dragons at Rodney Parade on Saturday night.
Moodie played at 13 for the Boks in their record-breaking win over the All Blacks at Twickenham and has been chomping at the bit to get another chance in the position - one which many pundits believe he will make his own in the national team in years to come.
With David Kriel being given a well-earned rest from the starting line-up, Director of Rugby Jake White has opted for Moodie at 13, with speedster Sebastian de Klerk joining World Cup winners Kurt-Lee Arendse and Willie le Roux in a potent back three.
There are also some other interesting changes for the match, with Harold Vorster moving back into the 12 jersey and a new halfback combination in stalwarts Zak Burger and Chris Smith, both of whom will be keen to make their mark in a game that is likely to be more tactical in the conditions than free-flowing.
The injury to both Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom means that the Bulls still, given their depth, have the luxury of fielding Bok World Cup winner Marco van Staden alongside Marcell Coetzee and upstart Celimpilo Gumede in the loose trio while Jan-Hendrik Wessels gets the start ahead of Johan Grobbelaar at hooker, with the latter being on the bench.
“We’re lucky to have the experience of guys like Harold. David Kriel played 80, 80 and 80 and we can’t use him all the time,” White said on the selection, “We have to keep other guys game ready and it is ironic that Zak, Chris and Harold were the 9, 10 and 12 in our semifinal win against Leinster two years ago. It helps to have that experience.
“And with Canan at 13, he has an experienced guy next to him and Willie behind him, who is very clever at helping the youngsters around the field.”
White said he had sensed a “spring in his step” when he told Moodie he would don the 13 jersey.
“I said it long ago that we always wanted to put him in at 13, and he really wants to play there. You can sense there is an extra spring in his step and we have depth in the outside backs, more than we do at 13. Collectively it is nice to see how the backline can be balanced and strong with him at 13.
“He does a lot of things really well, he defends well and likes to tackle. He is actually one of the best tacklers I’ve coached and if they start to test us under the high ball he will have to go back and do a job on the wing at some point probably as well.
“I’m really excited to see him at 13, I’m excited he has Harold next to him and Willie behind him, and you can see he has that spring in his step and wants to play 13 as well.”
White said he was certain Moodie would use the lessons learnt at Twickenham, where he put in a sensational performance at 13, to good use this weekend at Rodney Parade.
Vodacom Bulls: Willie le Roux; Sebastian de Klerk, Canan Moodie, Harold Vorster, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Chris Smith, Zak Burger; Marcell Coetzee (co-captain), Celimpilo Gumede, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje (co-captain), Ruan Vermaak, Wilco Louw, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: Simphiwe Matanzima, Johan Grobbelaar, Mornay Smith, Reinhard Ludwig, Nizaam Carr, Embrose Papier, Johan Goosen, Devon Williams.