It’s hard to believe it, but Vodacom Bulls winger Canan Moodie will run on for his 50th cap for the Vodacom Bulls on Saturday when the side head down to Cape Town for their Vodacom United Rugby Championship derby against the DHL Stormers in Cape Town.
The circle will be completed for the 22 year old - three years after making his debut for the Pretoria side in a Currie Cup match against the Stormers’ alter-ego, DHL Western Province in 2022.
It was part of a whirlwind year where Moodie made his Currie Cup debut and URC debut (against the Emirates Lions) in a two week period, then went on to represent the Springboks and had a stunning debut against Australia later in the year where he scored a try with the first touch of the ball.
Moodie was part of the Springboks’ World Cup winning squad in 2023 and is now one of the marquee players for the Bulls, and the milestone won’t be lost on him, especially as he was born and raised in Paarl and made his name at schoolboy level with an exceptional try while playing for his school Hoër Landbouskool Boland at Newlands in front of the same Cape crowd that is likely to turn up and make the game a sell-out on Saturday.
The Bulls are not likely to make too much of a fuss about the milestone, but it is a testament to coach Jake White’s belief in the youngster, as Moodie has more than given back to the Bulls and is likely to be a massive part of the game on Saturday.
Two weeks ago, in the Ellis Park derby against the Lions, Moodie was on the bench and made an immediate impact, including a massive tackle on Manny Rass after the Lions utility back had broken through and looked to be setting his side up to score.
Moodie stopped him in his tracks, lifted him and drove him back metres in a tackle that will be watched on highlight reels for months to come.
The Bok winger has had a bit of a chequered season, especially after White said he had spent “too much time at the buffet” while with the Springboks, where he hardly featured on the November tour.
While White clarified his comments afterwards, the outcry was understandable, and Moodie has worked hard to shake off any extra kilos in the past few weeks. The commitment he has shown in the games he has played, is beyond question, and his impact against the Lions certainly left a very big impression.
But on Saturday he has an opportunity to remind White and the Cape public of his exceptional play, and to do it at a stadium close to home.
Many players don’t have the opportunity to get to 50 caps, but Moodie has done it in less than three seasons, and while he is one of the more experienced Bulls players on the park this weekend, it is hard to believe he is still only 22.
The Bulls have not had many fond memories of their time in Cape Town of late, but if Moodie gets his chance in space, he is likely to try and make a few of his own in front of his family and friends, who will be there to celebrate the milestone.
And that can only help the Bulls cause.