Bulls coach Jake White has raised concerns about the fitness of young star Canan Moodie following their recent United Rugby Championship (URC) match against Connacht. The 22-year-old winger, considered one of rugby’s brightest talents, has been recovering from injuries and has only played twice for the Springboks this year. Despite this, he has featured in all six of the Bulls’ URC games, including their 28-14 victory over Connacht, where Moodie scored one of their tries.
Concerns About Fitness
Moodie recently returned from the Springboks’ Autumn Nations Series campaign, during which he played against Scotland. However, White expressed dissatisfaction with his condition upon his return, suggesting that the player may have indulged too much during his time with the national team. Speaking candidly, White said, “He looked at times like he had eaten too much food at the buffet while he was on tour for the last month. I said that to him. I think he is going to have to start staying away from the buffet.” White’s remarks hinted at his expectation for Moodie to improve his fitness and performance.
While Moodie displayed flashes of brilliance in the game, including a try-scoring effort, White remarked that he fell short of finishing other promising runs, attributing it to potential fitness issues.
Positive Aspects of the Bulls’ Performance
Despite his criticism of Moodie, White was pleased with the team’s overall performance, particularly in the first half, during which the Bulls built a 14-0 lead. In the third quarter, they extended their advantage with tries from David Kriel and Moodie. However, the Bulls’ momentum waned after Mpilo Gumede received a red card, allowing Connacht to score twice.
White acknowledged the team’s initial dominance but noted a drop in intensity and focus in the latter stages. “Got a bit sloppy in the end, but I guess that’s what happens, a little bit of fatigue and a little bit of experience to understand that we needed to change things up a bit,” he said.
Set-Piece Challenges
The Bulls’ set-piece, particularly the lineout, faced issues, which White attributed to the inexperience of young lock JF van Heerden. Van Heerden, who was tasked with calling lineouts, struggled at times, which disrupted the team’s rhythm. White acknowledged the learning curve for the young player, emphasizing the need for growth and adaptation.
“I’m very happy, especially the first half; we had 12 lineouts and lost one, and that’s considering we’ve got no Reinhardt Ludwig and Ruan Nortje,” White said. “A guy like JF van Heerden is relatively young still in terms of calling lineouts; he’ll have to learn from that performance.”
Moving Forward
While the Bulls secured their fifth win of the URC season, White’s remarks about Moodie and the team’s late-game performance highlighted areas for improvement. The coach’s candid critique underscores his commitment to pushing the team—and its rising stars like Moodie—towards greater success.