Kobus Wiese says centres Andre Esterhuizen and Canan Moodie will offer the Springboks a “great combo” of physicality and X-factor against France on Sunday.

The Boks look to continue their path towards defending the Webb Ellis Cup when Jacques Nienaber’s men lock horns with the tournament hosts in Paris in the last of the quarter-finals this weekend.

Nienaber is expected to name his match-day 23 on Friday, and in a conversation with veteran rugby journalist Mark Keohane on X (formerly known as Twitter), Wiese favoured the powerful 16-Test Esterhuizen over World Cup winner Damian de Allende at 12.

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Wiese was among those who responded to Keohane’s post on who to pick at right wing between Moodie and Kurt-Lee Arendse, and the World Cup-winning Bok lock and TV pundit cited the latter having not played a bad game for the Boks since his 2022 debut as well as being the in-form winger in the current squad.

Asked about Moodie, Wiese said he would play the 20-year-old wing-cum-centre at 13 and Esterhuizen on his inside, adding: “I believe Esterhuizen brings more, besides being big and physical, he has good hands and in great form.

“With Moodie, who has pace, great natural ability, reads the game well and has X-factor, makes a great combo.”

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