Kolisi excited to see Hooker, Moodie centre pairing against Italy

SPRINGBOK captain Siya Kolisi can’t wait to see the youthful centre pairing of Ethan Hooker and Canan Moodie in action against Italy today in Turin.

- MIKE GREENAWAY

ETHAN Hooker will form an exciting centre combination with Canan Moodie for the Springboks against Italy. | AFP

(AFP)

Bok coach Rassie Erasmus is giving 22-year-old Hooker his first shot at his preferred position of inside centre, while Moodie (23) has been recalled at 13, with Jesse Kriel taking a break.

Kolisi knows Hooker inside out from their time together at the Sharks, and he likes what he sees.

“T would back Ethan anywhere on the field,” Kolisi smiled.

“He loves rugby. He is a big man. He is taller than me and maybe the same weight. He is not scared of the physical side of things, and I am really excited to see what he is going to do.

“Ethan and Canan, as a partnership, have so much potential. They are playing against two tough centres in Juan Ignacio Brex and Tommaso Menoncello, but I back them all day long.”

How the backline performs will depend on how well Kolisi and his forwards compete at the breakdown, an area of the game where Italy outplayed the Wallabies last week.

“They gave us a hard time at the breakdown when they toured South Africa earlier this year,” Kolisi warned. “Tt was hard for us to win that game in Pretoria. So we know how good they are, and we have done our homework. We have to make sure that we look to be.