Springbok winger Canan Moodie’s participation in the rest of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship is in doubt and there are concerns about how fit he will be for the upcoming Springbok tests against Wales, Ireland and Portugal.
Moodie fronted up to the media after his injury against the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban last week and described it as nothing more than “bumps and bruises”, only to turn up on a Bulls social media post a day later telling fans he wouldn’t be playing this weekend in the quarterfinal against Italian side Benetton.
Moodie will undergo surgery on his index finger Friday and the hope is that the operation will be a success and won’t keep him on the sidelines for too long.
“It is more than bumps and bruises,” Director of Rugby Jake White said, “It’s his finger and he is going for surgery today. It is one of those things, you can get a plate or pin. I’m not sure how bad it is, when they operate they will see and see if it is one of those things that you can strap and play in two, three weeks time.
“But he won’t be available for this week and next week is probably out as well. I can’t see him getting surgery today and playing next week.
“From the Springboks’ point of view, I hope it isn’t too serious because we would want him to be ready for the Irish series as well. He has gone for an op today and only when they open it up they will know how bad it is.
“It is his index finger, and it obviously influences his passing. He broke his pinkie finger a few months ago, but he played with it strapped. The index finger is something we need to get fixed.”
AWKWARD FALL
Moodie injured himself making a linebreak in the 26-14 win in Durban, falling awkwardly when he was tackled close to the line in a movement that saw Vincent Tshituka get a yellow card. While he played on “bravely”, as White put it, when he got back to the hotel the finger started to swell and the medical team decided that more action was needed.
“When we got back to the hotel and we looked at it, and it started to swell, the doctor said we must get it fixed.”
White also gave clarification on the injury to another World Cup winner in Marco van Staden, who limped off the field against Benetton three weeks ago when they played. White said Van Staden could have been rushed to play but the Bulls decided not to take the risk.
“Marco would have been able to play tomorrow if it was the last game of the season, but it is one of those. To be fair to him, he is also in the Springbok squad and I don’t want to take a 50-50 risk with a guy who breaks down and then he is out again for the international series.
“Especially now that Jasper Wiese is out for the first few games and Kwagga Smith is back from injury. There is probably a lot going on in the back of his mind that he won’t talk to me about but if I put myself in his situation, I don’t think it is fair unless he is 100 per cent to put him back onto the field.”
White confirmed that if the Bulls do advance to the semifinals of the competition, then regular captain Marcell Coetzee would be available for selection next week.