After suffering a finger injury that kept him on the sidelines for two months, Springbok wing, Canan Moodie will on Saturday (17:00) have the opportunity to once again showcase his skills when the Boks battle New Zealand in round four of the Rugby Championship in Cape Town.

This is after the 21-year-old was selected to start on the wing in place of injured Kurt-Lee Arendse for the second test.

The clash will be Moodie’s first for the Boks in 2024 after he made his debut last year against Australia in Sydney before going on to form part of the team that won the Rugby World Cup in France.

He’s worked his way back into the squad after going under the knife, and on Thursday said he was excited to be back in the mix. 

“It’s been a tough couple of weeks/months with the injury I had but once you’re not here you know how special it is to be here so you’re desperate to get back into it,” said Moodie, who crossed over the whitewash against the All Blacks in the record victory before the World Cup last year.

“The mental toughness of it, you just want to be back here again and that made me push and do all I could.

“It is why I was playing in the Currie Cup, trying to get match fit and doing everything I can to be back here and this weekend I have an opportunity to play again. I’m just grateful for the opportunity to show what I can do again.”

The rematch against the All Blacks will be quite special for Moodie who will be playing in his hometown. 

He was raised in Paarl, attended Boland Agricultural High School, and said he’s relishing the opportunity of playing in front of family and supporters. 

“It’s very special. I tried to keep it low during the week, but now the team is out, so I’m probably going to get some messages for tickets,” he said, chuckling. 

“Growing up in Cape Town, these are the games you’re thinking about, running in the streets thinking you’re facing the All Blacks.

“It’s a special opportunity and what better place than Cape Town to do it.”

Moodie, in 10 caps with the Boks, has never suffered a defeat and he will hope that doesn’t change and the Boks complete the double over their fierce rivals for the first time since 2009 and win the Freedom Cup.

This will be the first time the Springbok face the All Blacks at DHL Stadium, the venue that was built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.  

Kick-off between the Springboks and New Zealand at the DHL Stadium is at 17:00

Springbok team to face New Zealand in Cape Town:

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche

Substitutes: 

16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Kwagga Smith, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Lukhanyo Am