In a rollercoaster finale, Canan Moodie brought Herschel Jantjies’ unbeaten run to a halt to be crowned the best Springbok on debut.
Moodie streaked to an early lead, holding 57% of the vote, but Jantjies refused to go down without a fight and bounced back to overhaul the winger, creating a 10% buffer that he held into Wednesday night.
However, in a reversal of fortunes, an overnight surge flipped the race and Moodie regained the lead, dismissing Jantjies to claim a thrilling 4% victory.
Jantjies, whose first defeat in this poll series came to Moodie in the final, previously fended off Bryan Habana, Tonderai Chavhanga, Schalk Burger, and Siya Kolisi.
Although precariously sneaking past Chavhanga, Jantjies dismissed the rest of his competition with disdain, only to fall short in the decider.
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Moodie’s winning debut came in the 2021-22 Rugby Championship round 4 clash against the Wallabies in Sydney.
The 19-year-old and second-youngest Springbok debutant was solid as a rock, making 35 metres from four carries and beating one defender.
With the Boks holding a four-point lead just before the end of the first half, Moodie flew through the air to snatch Jaden Hendrikse’s contestable kick from right under the nose of Koroibete and streaked away to score his first Test try.
