South Africa will be worried about Scotland but in Canan Moodie they have an unbelievable talent, says Edinburgh coach

New Edinburgh coach Sean Everitt claims South Africa will be worried about Scotland pulling off an upset when the sides meet at the Rugby World Cup in France next week.

Finn Russell is tackled by Siya Kolisi during the last meeting between Scotland and South Africa, at Murrayfield in 2021. The sides will meet again at the World Cup in France on September 10. (Photo by David Gibson/Fotosport/Shutterstock)

Everitt, who arrived in the capital after spells with the Pretoria-based Bulls and Durban-based Sharks, worked with new Springboks sensation Canan Moodie and captain Siya Kolisi and expects the pair to have a big impact on the tournament. But he also believes Finn Russell can be a pivotal figure in the Pool B clash in Marseille on September 10.

Both teams go into the game on form. Scotland won three of their four warm-up Tests, their only defeat coming in a closely fought match with France in Saint-Etienne. South Africa have been building momentum since their second-place finish in the Rugby Championship, beating Argentina, Wales and New Zealand. Their 35-7 thrashing of the All Blacks in London last Friday was a startling result but Everitt thinks there will still be concerns in the Springboks camp.

“Scotland’s form of late has also been really good,” said the Edinburgh coach who has taken over from Mike Blair. “If Finn Russell’s on song and he manages the game correctly then the Springboks could be in trouble. But ultimately, your team’s only as good as your set-piece. If they can limit set-piece opportunities for South Africa and be disciplined in their performance then they will have a shot at the Boks, and I think the Boks would be worried about Scotland right now.”

Canan Moodie of South Africa on the attack against New Zealand at Twickenham. South Africa won 35-7. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

South Africa, in Corsica preparing for the tournament, have been boosted by Kolisi’s remarkably speedy recovery from a serious knee injury. The flanker suffered a partial tear of his anterior cruciate ligament while playing for the Sharks against Munster in the United Rugby Championship in April. He underwent surgery and looked odds-on to miss the World Cup but has started South Africa’s last two games and looks set to lead them out against Scotland.

“I expect him to make an impact,” said Everitt who was his coach when he signed for the Sharks in 2021. “His performances look like they are up there with his best again and it is quite incredible for a guy who was due to miss out on the World Cup to make a quick recovery. He is an inspiration to the country and the country backs him 100 per cent. He takes responsibility on the park and is a popular guy amongst his team-mates. He leads from the front like a true warrior.”

As the Springboks’ first Black captain, Kolisi’s cultural resonance goes deep and his role in leading South Africa to World Cup glory in 2019 cemented his status as a global icon. But a new hero is threatening to emerge from the squad, with Moodie’s performance against New Zealand attracting rave reviews. The Bulls winger reverted to his schools rugby position of outside centre at Twickenham and Everitt believes he has the natural ability to thrive in the role in France.

“I was fortunate enough to work with Canan at the Bulls,” he said. “I had a short stint at the Bulls as a defence consultant. If you look at the Bulls’ form in the URC you would have noticed that when Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie are in the side it’s a different team, they’re really dangerous in attack and have X-factor.

South Africa's Siya Kolisi takes selfies with fans after attending a training session in Biguglia near Bastia on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica where they are preparing for the Rugby World Cup. (Photo by PASCAL POCHARD-CASABIANCA/AFP via Getty Images)

“I just think that Canan is one of those guys who has been born with an unbelievable talent. He’s only played a handful of Test matches, and he played on the wing. He is comfortable at 13. He played in that position for the South Africa U20 team and at school, but to come into a Test match not having played at 13 for so many years and when it’s known to be one of the most difficult positions to defend in because there is so much happening in those outside channels, I thought he was really good. It just shows what a talent he is.”