Springboks star reveals ambition to emulate ‘great role model’ Bryan Habana’s legacy
Legendary Springboks wing Bryan Habana and current Boks flyer Canan Moodie.
After being released to return to his provincial union for some much-needed game time in the Currie Cup last week, Canan Moodie could feature for the Springboks against the All Blacks in Cape Town on Saturday.
With fellow Bulls speedster Kurt-Lee Arendse set to miss the highly anticipated clash due to concussion which he sustained in the corresponding fixture in Johannesburg last week, Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has to decide who of Moodie and Makazole Mapimpi comes into the run-on side as his replacement on the left wing.
Despite only being 21, Moodie has had his fair share of injuries himself and a fracture to his index finger, which he sustained while on United Rugby Championship (URC) duty with the Bulls early in June, kept him on the sidelines for two months.
Out of contention for several Springbok Tests
That injury saw him missing the Bulls’ clash with Glasgow Warriors in the URC final at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria as well as the Springboks‘ two Tests against Ireland, their clash with Portugal and the opening Rugby Championship encounters with the Wallabies.
“The recovery time did not go as I had hoped,” Moodie told Netwerk24 while at an event hosted by Puma. “It wasn’t ideal at all to miss such big Tests, but a guy has to stay positive.
“You have to make the best of the situation and I worked on my speed during that time. I also spent time with my family in Paarl.”
After featuring for the Bulls in their Currie Cup loss to the Lions on Friday, Moodie rejoined the Springbok squad on Sunday as they started their preparations for this weekend’s rematch with the All Blacks at Cape Town Stadium.
Although he is a contender to replace club-mate Arendse in the Boks’ number 11 jersey, Moodie has only featured on the right wing and at outside centre for South Africa in the international arena.
He said he has worked hard at improving certain areas of his game recently.
“I’ve been working hard on my ability to beat players in a one-on-one situation, so now I have more confidence to take on opponents and go for the gaps,” explained Moodie.
“I also improved my skills under hanging kicks and paid attention to my defence. Moreover, I communicate more on the field these days.”
Although he has only made 10 appearances for the Springboks, the 2023 Rugby World Cup winner sets lofty standards for himself and revealed that he hopes to follow the legacy of legendary Bok flyer Bryan Habana.
‘He was a great role model on and off the field’
“I would have loved to have played with Bryan Habana,” said Moodie. “He was a great role model on and off the field and it is remarkable that he played at the highest level for so long.
“It’s hard to say exactly what I want my legacy to be because I’m writing my story.
“I have become a Springbok and have already helped win a World Cup tournament. When I call it a day, I’d like to be remembered as a guy who gave it his all in every game.
“Also as someone who put his body on the line for South Africa and loves the game very much.”
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