The Springboks are banking on altitude and aerial dominance to beat Scotland at Loftus Versfeld, with Canan Moodie warning the visitors they’ll feel the difference. CLINTON VAN DER BERG reports.
Moodie, who has made Loftus his home ground for the past three seasons, said the Boks intend to use the 1,300m altitude as more than a physical edge, saying it’s central to how they plan to play.
“It’s a fortress for us. The altitude isn’t just about the physical effect, it’s about how we play, putting them under pressure, being confrontational in the collisions, so by the end of the game they feel they’ve played a proper South African side.”
High-ball contests are shaping up as a key battleground. With aerial duels increasingly functioning as a de facto set-piece in the modern game, Moodie said the Boks have refined, but not reinvented, an approach built over years of preparation.
“We’re well prepped for the high balls,” he said. “They come with different tactics, but we’ve been doing this for years, so we trust our system and just clean up where we can.”
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Scotland arrive off the back of a good win over Argentina, with the bulk of their squad drawn from the Glasgow Warriors, a side the Vodacom Bulls faced recently in a URC semi-final. Moodie said that familiarity gives the Boks an edge heading into the clash.
“The majority of this Scotland squad is from Glasgow, so it gives us a good view of their attack and how they like to play,” he said, adding that Scotland’s backline poses a genuine threat when it plays with width.
Asked about the anticipated aerial battle, Moodie was unperturbed.
“Every team has different tactics there. We’ve adjusted while staying true to what’s worked for us, and we’ll execute our plan. If it doesn’t work and they come with something different, we’ll adapt.”
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Rather than dismiss the emergence of youngsters pushing established seniors, Moodie said he welcomed coach Rassie Erasmus’ philosophy of not allowing anyone to get too comfortable.
“We train at such a high level that you get pushed to your limits. The young guys push you, and that brings the best out of you. Are they far off? No, if you’re good enough, you’re old enough, and I’m testament to that.”
Moodie, who will start on the wing in his 25th Test, said his role spans far more than attacking width.
“My job this weekend is on the wing, and I’ll try to execute that as best I can: high balls, defensive structure, attack,” he said. “That’s where I’m needed.”
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Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
The post Moodie: Boks to make Scots feel it appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The Springboks are banking on altitude and aerial dominance to beat Scotland at Loftus Versfeld, with Canan Moodie warning the visitors they’ll feel the difference.
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