From Junior Bok To Test No. 10: Moyo’s Rapid Rise Ahead Of Historic Debut In Durban
Young flyhalf Vusi Moyo, one of four players set to wear the green and gold jersey in a Test match for the first time in Durban on Saturday, expressed his delight at earning his Springbok debut, while assistant coach Deon Davids warned against underestimating the threat posed by Wales.
The Springboks face Wales in their third and final home Test of the inaugural Nations Championship.
The match at Hollywoodbets Kings Park kicks off at 17:40 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
“It’s every kid’s dream to be part of this Springbok setup,” said a delighted Moyo, who addressed the media alongside his halfback partner, Cobus Reinach.
“When the call came through on Monday, my heart missed a beat. It’s very special to be around Cobus and the other players in the squad. Personally, it’s about making my family and the people who have supported me along the way proud.”
Moyo, who made his senior franchise debut for the Hollywoodbets Sharks and represented the Junior Springboks earlier this season, received his first senior national call-up last month.
“It was very special to get my first cap for the Sharks and then, a few weeks later, get called up to this squad. It’s something I’m really excited about and very grateful for,” he said.
“It has given me the opportunity to learn from the experienced guys and keep improving because this setup is at a much higher level, and you have to make decisions a lot quicker.”
The talented 20-year-old, who named current teammates Handré Pollard and Manie Libbok among his rugby heroes, was equally thrilled for fellow debutants Jaco Williams (wing), Ruben van Heerden (lock) and Carlu Sadie (prop), who will also earn their first Test caps on Saturday.
“Ruben, Carlu and Jaco are all making their debuts too, so it’s important for all of us to implement what the coaches have taught us going into this weekend,” Moyo said.
“It’s not just about me; it’s about those guys as well. I’m very happy, and when you have two-time Rugby World Cup champions around you, it makes it much easier to learn.”
Davids, meanwhile, focused on the challenge Wales will present and praised their progress despite last week’s defeat to Argentina.
“I think we would all agree that Wales are a very competitive team,” said Davids.
“They went through a challenging spell and have worked very hard to get themselves back onto an upward curve.
“This is Test rugby, and they would have learned a lot from the Six Nations and also from the game against Argentina. There have been real improvements in their game, and this will be another opportunity for them to improve in certain areas and become even more competitive. So, it will be a proper Test match, and we are expecting a very tough, physical contest.”
With the Springboks coming off successive victories in the competition, Davids stressed the importance of maintaining standards rather than dwelling on previous performances.
“We don’t talk about what we’ve done before. We focus on what we need to do now to become a better squad,” he said.
“There’s always work to be done because things can change in the blink of an eye. If we don’t pitch up this weekend, it won’t go our way, so we have to be accurate, focused and ready for the challenge.”
