July 17, 08:54

Vusi Moyo debuts for the Springboks against Wales in the Nations Cup in Durban

Flyhalf Vusi Moyo is set to make his debut in the match for the Springboks against Wales as part of the Nations Cup on Saturday. This debut will take place just two months after he played his first club match.

Debut in Home City

The twenty-year-old player will be the center of attention at the home stadium in Durban, where he previously played for the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship. The South African national team, which is the reigning world champion, aims to secure a third consecutive title in the new competition.

He expressed special gratitude for the opportunity to be alongside experienced scrum-half Kobus Reinach and other Springboks players. Moyo stated that he wants to bring pride to his family and those who helped him develop. Being part of the squad allows him to work with players he admires, and he considers being on the training ground with them a special moment.

Rassie Erasmus announced that he plans to have five or six players vying for each position when forming the squad for the 2027 World Cup in Australia. During the 2023 World Cup in France, which South Africa won, Erasmus only selected one flyhalf, Mani Libbok. Later, he added a second playmaker, Handré Pollard, as a replacement for the injured hooker Malcolm Marks.

This move proved very successful, as Pollard scored four penalties that helped defeat arch-rival New Zealand in the final. After a brilliant 2025 season, including the Springboks' record 37 points against Argentina, Sacha Feinberg-Munegomezulu is the primary flyhalf, but he sustained an injury.

Assessment of Moyo's Play

Erasmus highly praised the young player, noting that 'for his age, Vusi is a big guy. He definitely is not afraid of the physical aspect of the game.' The coach also highlighted his strengths: 'He kicks from the tee brilliantly, his restarts are superb, he kicks well on contact and for points. We want to see him in the Test after his impressive performance in training and also on the bench against the Barbarians. For such a large guy, he has very soft hands.'

Last month, Moyo scored a conversion in the match that opened the season against the Barbarians, but it was a friendly match without capitalization awarded. Erasmus also selected three other new players for the squad: winger Sharks Jaco Williams, tighthead prop Carl Seydi from Bordeaux-Bègles, and lock Ruben van Heerden from Montpellier.

Changes in the Welsh Squad

The Welsh team, which defeated Fiji and lost to Argentina in previous rounds, made changes to the lineup that started in Cordoba. Head coach Steve Tendi explained his decisions as a 'desire for freshness.' These changes include the new centre partnership of Max Llewellyn and Ben Thomas. Winger Louis Rhys-Zammit and flyhalf Dan Edwards returned to the starting lineup after the match against Fiji. Lock Teddy Williams starts for the first time in a year after injury, and flanker Alex Mann returns after the match against the Fijians.

Winger Josh Adams, who is preparing for his third match in three weeks, emphasized the need to 'physically hold on and stay in the fight' against the Springboks. He also noted that playing against the world champions in South Africa represents 'the toughest challenge for any team.' It is worth noting that last November, when the teams met in Cardiff, Wales suffered a crushing 73-point defeat.

iol.co.zaJuly 15, 08:15

Vusi Moyo shares impressions of his Springbok debut after meeting Handre Pollard

Vusi Moyo, one of the young players from the Sharks team, recently demonstrated outstanding results in Springbok colors in Gqeberha. He stated that he feels completely ready for his debut with the national team on Saturday against Wales in Durban.

Preparation for Debut

Moyo emphasized that his preparation accelerated significantly because over the last six weeks he was in camp with three of the world's top flankers: Handre Pollard, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Manie Libbok. Just 18 months ago, the 20-year-old player attended KES school in Johannesburg and played only one game for the Sharks; now he is preparing to move into the senior squad.

Meeting Idols

Moyo expressed deep respect for his mentors. He noted that Handre Pollard had long been an example for him, and Manie's play shaped his style in high school. He also highly praised Sacha's performance in recent years. The young athlete shared his joy that all three supported him this week, remarking: 'It's great to know I have guys like them behind me. They are all different, but they are all among the best flankers in the world.' He added that meeting Handre brought a huge smile to his face, as meeting heroes is a dream for any child.

Feeling Lucky and Support

Moyo does not believe in his luck being part of the Bok squad with players who have won the World Cup twice. He recalled his first impression of Cobus Reinach, who scored three touchdowns against Canada at the 2019 World Cup in Japan, and expressed happiness about partnering with him. He described his transition to the team as surreal, only realizing it after coach Rassie announced the squad on Monday, which evoked strong emotions.

Gratitude to Family and Coach

Moyo also mentioned the support of his family, who are very proud of him. He shared that his mother plans to watch his sister's first hockey tournament and sent him a message that she would be supporting him in spirit at Kings Park. Despite missing the first five months of the year due to injury, coach Rassie Erasmus noticed his potential during Junior Boks appearances and invited him to training camps.

Philosophy of Team Play

He noted that transitioning from the junior team to the senior team requires a faster pace, and working together with two-time world champions facilitates learning and skill improvement. Moyo spoke about his plan to handle the excitement of the news by trying not to focus on himself but rather on the team play against Wales, as advised by the coaches. When Rassie named the squad, Handre was the first to tell him he was ready to help in any situation, which was a special moment for Moyo.