Canan Moodie & Grant Williams big winners for Springboks
Rassie Erasmus played four very different starting XVs in July, but individually the biggest Springboks winners were Canan Moodie and Grant Williams, writes Mark Keohane.
Moodie and Williams started in the second Test against Italy and one-off against Georgia and both were red-hot.
Moodie, who started both Tests at outside centre, was dominant, aggressive and all-class in a No 13 jersey worn by some big-name players in the history of the Springboks, the most recent being Lukhanyo Am and Jesse Kriel.
Kriel captained the Springboks against the Barbarians in Cape Town and in the first Test against Italy, in the enforced absence of the injured Siya Kolisi. The latter was back for Georgia, with Kriel rested for the last two Tests of the July window.
In his absence Moodie revelled in the opportunity, scored two wonderful tries and impressed in all areas of his game. His commitment on defence, his chasing of every cause, his determination and intensity were all features of two particularly good performances.
Moodie, a product of Boland Landbou in the Western Cape, has played 14 Tests since debuting as a 19 year-old and never lost a Test. He has started 13 of the 14 Tests, with five of those starts in the No 13 jersey and the other eight wearing No 14.
He is just 22 years-old.
Occupied positions by Canan on start team for Bulls and Boks.
- Winger : 49 times ( Right Wing 62%, Left Wing 9% )
- Center : 16 times ( Outside Centre 23% )
- Fullback : 4 times ( Fullback 6% )
Williams, schooled at Paarl Gimnasium in the Western Cape, missed the last month of the United Rugby Championship through injury, but in the past fortnight sizzled at the base of a dominant Bok scrum and set piece.
Williams has pace to burn defences and his pace adds a dimension the other No 9s in the Boks set-up just don’t have. Faf de Klerk made his return after a lengthy absence, Cobus Reinach got game time and Morne van den Berg started the first two matches of July.
Williams, for me, made the most telling statement in a month where squad depth was built and the newbies all made progress.
Veterans Malcolm Marx and Pieter-Steph du Toit reaffirmed their standing as the best No 2 and No 7 and Eben Etzebeth got through two matches without discomfort.
Cobus Wiese, at lock and at No 8, added to an already physical potency and Edwill van der Merwe, on the right wing, prospered each time he played.
Willie le Roux got to 100 Tests and several players made their Test debuts.
Collectively, in the four matches the Boks are running at a B, but tracking for the A needed to retain their Rugby Championship title.
WHY THE BOKS WILL WIN THE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP
Players used for the four July Springboks matches.
Springboks v Barbarians in Cape Town (won 54-7)
15 Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 11 caps, 35 points (7t)
14 Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath) – 40 caps, 111 points (18t, 3c, 5p)
13 Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 79 caps, 90 points (18t)
12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 87 caps, 55 points (11t)
11 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 24 caps, 90 points (18t)
10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 8 caps, 52 points (14c, 8p)
9 Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions) – 2 caps, 0 points
8 Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks) – 14 caps 10 points (2t)
7 Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – uncapped
6 Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 92 caps, 60 points (12t)
5 Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 66 caps, 25 points (5t)
4 Jean Kleyn (Munster) – 7 caps, 0 points
3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Emirates Lions) – uncapped
2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 76 caps, 105 points (21t)
1 Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 39 caps, 0 points
Replacements:
16 Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets) – uncapped
17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls) – 3 caps, 5 points (1t)
18 Neethling Fouche (DHL Stormers) – uncapped
19 Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 78 caps, 20 points (4t)
20 Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 51 caps, 45 points (9t)
21 Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 39 caps, 70 pts (14t)
22 Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers) – 19 caps, 98 pts (1t, 30c, 11p)
23 Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 19 caps, 0 points
Springbok team to face Italy in Pretoria (won 42-24)
15 Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 39 caps, 56 points (4t, 9c, 4p, 2 dg)
14 Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath) – 40 caps, 111 points (18t, 3c, 5p)
13 Jesse Kriel (captain, Canon Eagles) – 79 caps, 90 points (18t)
12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 87 caps, 55 points (11t)
11 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 24 caps, 90 points (18t)
10 Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls) – 80 caps, 772 points (7t, 109c, 168p, 5dg)
9 Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions) – 2 caps, 0 points
8 Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 34 caps, 10 points (2t)
7 Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – uncapped
6 Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 25 caps, 10 points (2t)
5 Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 66 caps, 25 points (5t)
4 Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 131 caps, 35 points (7t)
3 Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 16 caps, 0 points
2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 76 caps, 105 points (21t)
1 Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 39 caps, 0 points
Replacements:
16 Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 77 caps, 70 points (14t)
17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls) – 3 caps, 5 points (1t)
18 Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 61 caps, 0 points
19 RG Snyman (Leinster) – 40 caps, 10 points (2t)
20 Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 78 caps, 20 points (4t)
21 Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 51 caps, 45 points (9t)
22 Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles) – 58 caps, 50 points (5t, 5c, 5p)
23 Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls) – 98 caps, 75 points (15t)
Springbok team to face Italy in Gqeberha (won 45-0)
15 Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls) – 99 caps, 75 pts (15t)
14 Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 1 cap, 5 pts (1t)
13 Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls) – 12 caps, 25 pts (5t)
12 Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 19 caps, 0 pts
11 Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 46 caps, 160 points (32t)
10 Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers) – 19 caps, 98 pts (1t, 30c, 11p)
9 Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 17 caps, 20 pts (4t)
8 Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 35 caps, 10 pts (2t)
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 86 caps, 60 pts (8t)
6 Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 26 caps, 20 pts (4t)
5 Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls) – 6 caps, 0 pts
4 Salmaan Moerat (captain, DHL Stormers) – 10 caps, 0 pts
3 Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 17 caps, 0 pts
2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 77 caps, 110 pts (22t)
1 Thomas du Toit (Bath) – 23 caps, 5 pts (1t)
Replacements:
16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls) – 4 caps, 5 pts (1t)
17 Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 40 caps, 0 pts
18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions) – uncapped
19 Cobus Wiese (Vodacom Bulls) – uncapped
20 Evan Roos (DHL Stormers) – 7 caps, 0 pts
21 Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers) – 39 caps, 70 pts (14t)
22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 8 caps, 52 points (14c, 8p)
23 Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – uncapped
Springbok team to face Georgia in Nelspruit (won 55-10)
15 Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 11 caps, 35 points (7t)
14 Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 2 caps, 15 pts (3t)
13 Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls) – 13 caps, 30 pts (6t)
12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 88 caps, 55 points (11t)
11 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 25 caps, 95 points (19t)
10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 9 caps, 52 points (14c, 8p)
9 Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 17 caps, 25 pts (5t)
8 Cobus Wiese (Vodacom Bulls) – 1 cap, 0 pts
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 87 caps, 40 pts (8t)
6 Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 92 caps, 60 points (12t)
5 Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls) – 7 caps, 0 pts
4 Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 132 caps, 35 points (7t)
3 Neethling Fouche (DHL Stormers) – uncapped
2 Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets) – uncapped
1 Boan Venter (Edinburgh) – uncapped
Replacements:
16 Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 78 caps, 70 points (14t)
17 Thomas du Toit (Bath) – 24 caps, 5 pts (1t)
18 Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 62 caps, 5 points (1t)
19 RG Snyman (Leinster) – 41 caps, 10 points (2t)
20 Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 52 caps, 45 points (9t)
21 Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles) – 59 caps, 50 points (5t, 5c, 5p)
22 Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls) – 81 caps, 784 points (7t, 115c, 168p, 5dg)
23 Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 40 caps, 56 points (4t, 9c, 4p, 2 dg)
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