Canan Moodie relishing chance to shine in front of Cape Town crowd

The backline baller has been out for several months after fracturing his finger in June, which forced him to go under the knife and sit on the sidelines.

But Moodie has been putting in performances for the Bulls in the Currie Cup in recent weeks, showing his silky skills haven't left him. With winger Kurt-Lee Arendse suffering a concussion and Makazole Mapimpi's wife expecting a child, Bok boss Rassie Erasmus has called up Moodie for national duty.

The utility back has been somewhat of a good luck charm for the Boks. Moodie has never lost while wearing the Bok jersey, boasting ten wins from ten games. He last ran out for the Boks in the pool stages of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, where he scored his fifth career try against Tonga.

Speaking to the press on Thursday, the 21-year-old revealed he was itching to get on the park in front of a home crowd.  

"It's been a tough couple of months with the injury I had," said the Paarl native.

"Once you aren't [in the bok camp], you realise how special it is so you're desperate to get back into it. The mental toughness of it - just pushing through and doing all you can to get back.

"This weekend, I have an opportunity to show what I can do. I'm very grateful. Growing up in Cape Town - these are the games you're thinking about when you're growing up. Running in the streets, pretending you're playing the All Blacks. It's a special opportunity."

Veteran Willie le Roux will be covering Moodie from fullback, while the tireless Cheslin Kolbe makes up the final position in the Boks' back three. 

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