Twickenham test for Canan Moodie: Another shot at the Springboks’ No 13 jersey

When youngster Canan Moodie runs out at Twickenham in the No 13 jersey against Argentina, he will have another opportunity to stake a serious claim for one of the Springboks’ hotly contested jerseys.

At just 22-years old, he already displays the game intelligence and positional awareness that mark him as a long-term option in the midfield. He’s been thriving in that outside centre role, and it doesn’t matter who he plays next to.

He’s had success with veteran Damian de Allende on his inside and utility-back Damian Willemse, while his combination with André Esterhuizen brought one of the biggest Bok victories over the All Blacks in 2023 at Twickenham.

So, whoever he is partnered with for a certain Test, he has been grabbing his opportunities.

On Saturday, in the deciding Rugby Championship match against the Pumas in London (3pm kick-off), he will have another chance next to De Allende to show the Bok management that he is ready to take up a more senior role in the midfield. Yes, veteran Jesse Kriel has also been good in that position ever since a spectacular 2023 Rugby World Cup, but looking to the future, Moodie is certainly putting his name forward for a spot in the starting XV.

The utility-back is comfortable on the wing, too, but his better Bok Tests have come when he’s been playing at 13. Saturday will provide him with another golden opportunity to tilt the balance in his favour — and he’ll know the significance of the game.

It’s not every day that a player is able to shift between these two positions successfully. It is arguably one of the trickiest transitions in rugby, with the defensive organisation of your side being vital. However, that is one part of the game Moodie has nailed when playing that role, despite being so young.

The way he marshalled the defence against the All Blacks in Wellington a couple of weeks ago, and how he replicated that against Argentina this past Saturday in Durban, deserves plaudits. There is maturity in his defensive game reading, and often, he makes the right decisions to stop dangerous backline attacks dead in their tracks.

And of course, he knows how to slice through defences when the Springboks are on the attack. Another strong part of his game is his kick-chases after high balls, and how he competes — and at times wins back possession.

His form for the Boks in limited outings at centre has been electric. Against Argentina at Twickenham, he’ll need to elevate that to another level. There have been plenty of showings from him that prove he can do just that — and how he performs in this game could be crucial. They are chasing history: a chance to win back-to-back Rugby Championships for the first time.

Kriel is still a crucial figure ahead of the 2027 tournament. There’s no doubt he remains rock-solid on defence, a vocal organiser, and a key voice in the Bok team. However, Moodie offers something different, that X-factor.

If he can continue to combine that flair with the structure and discipline required in the 13 channel — a notoriously tough position to master week in and week out — he could well unseat Kriel before the year is done.