Canan Moodie has played his way from World Cup wildcard to locking down a starting role for the Springboks at the tournament in France.

Fresh from a sensational performance in his first Test start at outside centre in the record win over New Zealand, Moodie is reportedly now considered amomg the first names on the Bok team sheet.

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The 20-year-old from Paarl was not assured of a place in the 33-man World Cup squad at the beginning of the year, but was included as the Boks opted to take five outside backs to France.

According to Sunday newspaper Rapport, Moodie is now viewed as a starter and will keep his place in the XV for the World Cup opener against Scotland in Marseilles on Sunday.

Moodie will, however, shift from centre to wing, in order to accommodate a more experienced midfield partnership between Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende, both of whom sat out the historic win at Twickenham.

The Vodacom Bulls player has scored six tries in eight Tests and his form has not gone unnoticed, with veteran Wales flyhalf Dan Biggar picking him as the player to watch in Pool B.

“We reviewed our defeat by the Boks two weeks ago and Moodie was at the heart of everything,” Biggar wrote in the Daily Mail.

“He’s got searing gas but doesn’t just rely on his pace to get him out of trouble. He looks comfortable on the ball and can be relied on to take the right options. Defence, aerial game, tries… he’s got it all.”

Photo: Twitter/@Springboks