Rassie Erasmus explains centre combination of Damian de Allende and Canan Moodie
By
SABC Sport
24th September 2025
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus gave some insights into his centre combination for Round 5 of the Rugby Championship against the Los Pumas in Durban this Saturday.
De Allende and Moodie will team up in the midfield for the second time when the Boks run out at Kings Park this weekend. The duo combined earlier this season for the first time in the Boks clash against Georgia, where the latter scored a try.
It is the latest combination of many that have gone before. The Bok centre stocks are healthy, with Jesse Kriel, Andre Esterhuizen, Lukhanyo Am and Swiss Army Knife Damian Willemse - along with de Allende and Moodie - having all featured as midfield partners.
Speaking to the press this week, Erasmus confirmed that his other centres are still very much in the picture.
"Earlier this season, we also had Damain and Canan together [as a centre combination].
"But remember, Damian and Lukhanyo were a combination at one stage. Lukhanyo is coming back with the United Rugby Championship starting again, so he's in the mix in a week or so.
"Canan and Andre are a great combo, and we enjoy Andre off the bench. If you look at the changes we made, it's mostly injury-enforced.
"We felt that Canan playing closer to the ball makes a few more instinctive calls as opposed to standing on the wing and working with the fullback.
"Just like Damian [Willemse], he is a good instinctive player. And now to have Damian de Allende come in whilst Andre Esterhuizen is missing out [on starting].
"But Jesse will play for us a lot more in future. It's just nice to try the combinations."
