Boks divided by age, bound by desire

They may be far apart on Father Time’s clock but within the Springbok Rugby World Cup (RWC) context the same desire makes Canan Moodie and Deon Fourie tick.

For the youngest and oldest members of the 33-man squad the need to hit the deck running at their first RWC is paramount. Despite the disparity in age, both have a sparkle in the eye.

Fourie’s Bok call up has drawn comparisons with Schalk Brits who at 38 became the oldest player to be handed a RWC winners medal four years ago.

“We are pals, we chat often. I’ll ask for a few tips,” quipped Fourie who will turn 37 during the tournament.

At the other end of the scale Moodie’s young mind took him back to the Boks’ successful campaign in France in 2007.

“You think back to Frans Steyn that laid the platform. It will be special,” said Moodie about the “baby” of that squad. “I’m the new kid on the block so I want to prove myself against anyone who comes up against me. I want to show that I’m a world class player,” said the 20-year-old who is generally in a hurry.

Biding his time

Fourie has had to bide his time. He has been around long enough not to make things personal. He owes his selection partly to his versatility in covering the back row and as hooker. In the Bok set-up he isn’t so much elder statesmen as seasoned sage.

“Duane [Vermeulen] is also there,” Fourie reminded. “He brings a lot of experience but the group on the whole has grown since 2019. They are four years older. I’ll add what I can,” he said, keen to stay in his lane.

Going in as defending champions gives the Boks a competitive edge but it also means raised expectation. “There is more pressure and focus on us as a team,” noted Fourie. “The guys who are here have been through it before, they know how to handle it.”

Moodie explained everyone has their own way of dealing with the weight of expectation.

“The pressure will be more intense at the RWC. You will have situations where you only have one chance to do everything perfectly. In fact, in every game all the way to the final you have to be perfect. Our plans are in place.”

Lasting impression

Both players left a lasting impression last weekend in Buenos Aires in the Boks’ last match before the squad was named. They faced an agonising wait until Monday to find out if they had cracked the nod.

“It was intense because you wondered whether you’d be in or out,” said Moodie. “I made the mind shift that when I get an opportunity I will try to make the most of it.

“I know if I use the opportunity, I can walk away satisfied that I gave my all,” said the strapping wing.

“It was emotional,” admitted Fourie. “I called my wife. It was a nice thing to share. It is something you never thought would happen.”

In fact, Fourie’s journey to the RWC squad is long and winding. He left the Stormers for Lyon in 2014 before joining Grenoble in 2019. His ability and ambition outstripped what presented itself in the French second division.

“I wasn’t very happy there because I felt I could compete more. I felt I played well. I felt I could compete at a higher level. I had the chance to go to the Stormers and see what happens over a year and see if I could keep up with the youngsters. It went well and now I’m standing here two years later.”

Facial fractures

Not that his time at the Stormers was plain sailing. He suffered a cheekbone fracture in the first 15 minutes in his first match for the Stormers. He later suffered a cracked eye socket.

“There was a lot of criticism of my age when I came back and then I go and break my cheekbone in the first game. That got a lot of people saying I’m too old. That put pressure on me because I wanted to show I could still play good rugby. Luckily it worked out at the Stormers, we won the URC [United Rugby Championship] and the rest is history.”

If that journey felt like time spent on a crowded commuter train, Moodie’s has been like the blur of a bullet.

A stunning try on debut against Australia in 2022 put him well on track.