Former Crusaders scrumhalf Bryn Hall has pinpointed Canan Moodie’s debut try as the turning point during the Springboks’ clash against the Wallabies in Sydney.

Canan Moodie had a dream start to his Springbok career. Like a thief in the night, Moodie snatched an up-and-under from the waiting arms of Marika Koroibete to streak away down the touchline as he went over for his first Springbok try.

In the wake of the Springboks’s bounce-back victory, The Aotearoa Rugby Pod delved into South Africa’s victory and Canan Moodie’s role in making it happen.

“His biggest strength is that he’s a tall athlete,” said Bryn Hall. “For him to be able to score that try, which I thought was a very pivotal moment in that Test match… being able to get up for the ball.

“The South Africans went back to (the kicking game) and they were able to have that pressure of the game and build momentum through their kicking.

“He’s also got a bit of speed about him and footwork. Any time you can have a debut where you can influence the game … and that was a pretty crucial moment. Being able to get over Koroibete from that kick off Hendrikse – it was pretty massive in the Test match.”

Co-panelist and former Blues hooker James Parsons was also full of praise for the young South African winger.

“There were a lot of changes,” Parsons said. “But they went back to what they know. We talk about the All Blacks kicking game and the way it manipulated defence, and South Africa were exceptional in that.

“Moodie, the young wing, his try was pretty exceptional.”

Jeff McTainish, the podcast’s stand-in host, also weighed in.

“There seems to be a factory in South African rugby for producing good wingers, good outside backs, one just shows up every year on the international scene,” McTainsh said. “Nineteen years of age, he’s a bit of a freak.”

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