Moodie will settle down

Springbok outside back Canan Moodie has seen his performances at the Bulls come under the microscope since slotting into the outside centre position.

He has not performed according to the standards he set at the Springboks playing in the No 13 jumper last season.

Moodie’s displays at 13 for the Boks in last year’s historic win over the All Blacks at Twickenham and against Romania in the Rugby World Cup in France were excellent, setting a high bar.

However, he has struggled to replicate those performances at the Bulls this season when picked at outside centre, and that’s something his mentor at the franchise, Jake White, has acknowledged.

Frustrations about Moodie’s performance at 13 for the Bulls could be summed up by the collective sigh of disappointment in the Loftus Versfeld press box this past Saturday.

He was brushed aside by Munster’s John Hodnett, who went on to score a try after a failed tackle attempt.

Someone of Moodie’s experience and calibre was expected to make that try-saving tackle, but he didn’t.

However, despite his time at 13 for the Bulls not starting well, there needs to be patience given to Moodie in the position as this is the first time he’s playing consistently at outside centre in his career.

His recent challenges at the Bulls can be attributed to several factors such as his young age and some system changes.

Even though he plays with maturity beyond his years, it’s important to remember that Moodie is only 21, meaning he may still be experiencing some teething problems. He will make mistakes and struggle for form in these formative years of his career.

The Bulls’ defence system is not as well-oiled as the one he played under at the Boks and it helped to shield him.

With his talent though, it’s only a matter of time before he gets things right at 13 with the Bulls.