Amazing scenes as Canan Moodie's family celebrate try-scoring debut

As far as debuts go, they do not get much better than 19-year-old Canan Moodie’s for South Africa on Saturday against Australia in the Rugby Championship.

The Bulls winger became the second youngest Springbok in the professional era in Sydney, as Jacques Nienaber’s side avenged their loss against the Wallabies from the week before in Adelaide to secure a 24-8 victory. Moodie bagged his side’s second try of the match just a minute before half-time, leaping high above opposite man Marika Koroibete to pluck a box kick out of the air and run in more or less unopposed from 30 metres out.

What has made his debut try even more special is that a video of his family celebrating the try has made its way onto social media, and it is hard not to like.

The Moodies from @PaarlPeople celebrating @springbokrugby #OnseMense pic.twitter.com/Hl3f6mWpFx

— Dr Harlan Cloete (@hrdgovernance) September 3, 2022

Canan Moodie’s capping ceremony

Canan Moodie’s capping ceremony

South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber suggested Moodie has thrown his hat in the ring for a World Cup place next year with his performance. “I am happy and proud for Canan – he’s been good for his franchise (the Vodacom Bulls), and we’ve been following his performances for a while,” said Nienaber.

“He is the fourth or fifth wing we’ve played this year, and it is tough on teams, but at the same time it gives us answers with an eye on the Rugby World Cup.”

Given the injury crisis that the Springboks are having to endure at the moment, Moodie has every chance of featuring in their two remaining Rugby Championship fixtures against Argentina in Buenos Aires and Durban. With both sides level on points in the table, back to back wins could be enough to secure the title, although it is still dependent on how the All Blacks and Australia get on in their two matches against each other.