Former referee Nigel Owens has tipped backline sensation Canan Moodie to shoot the lights out for the world-champion Springboks at France 2023.
Speaking on World Rugby’s Whistle Watch, Owens picked one potential breakout player from each of the 20 teams set to compete for the Webb Ellis Cup in just over a week’s time, and the Welshman reckons the 20-year-old Moodie has the makings of a superstar.
All Blacks centre Jordie Barrett, Italy fullback Ange Capuozzo, France flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert, Australia lock Will Skelton and Wales flanker Jac Morgan also crack the nod on Owen’s players to watch list.
The Boks made a surprise call for their final World Cup warm-up match last week against the All Blacks by shifting the 1.9m Moodie away from the wing and into midfield at No 13.
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It was Moodie’s first top-flight start at outside centre, a position where he first garnered attention as a schoolboy star at Boland Landbou.
He went up against All Blacks star Rieko Ioane, who walked a similar road by starting out on the right wing before shifting inside, and Barrett at a sold-out Twickenham, and the Paarl-born speedster flourished for the world champions in their mauling of the old enemy.
Moodie’s try was ruled out as one of the Boks’ touchdowns in a record win against the Kiwis, but the rookie Test centre’s finishing was still out of the top drawer.
Moodie had a breakout 2022, earning four Test caps and has backed that up this season, scoring three tries in another four appearances that helped book his ticket to his maiden World Cup ahead of a title defence the Boks kick off against Scotland in Marseille on 8 September.
Photo: Juan Mabromata/AFP