Bulls director of rugby Jake White has explained that his recent “buffet” comment regarding Canan Moodie was not meant to criticise the player but that it was a tongue-in-cheek remark.

After the Bulls’ 28-14 victory over Connacht in Galway last weekend, White commented about the highly rated speedster’s conditioning after he returned to the Pretoria-based outfit following the Springboks’ recent Autumn Nations Series campaign in Europe.

Moodie, who was part of the Springboks’ 2023 Rugby World Cup-winning squad in France, only featured in the world champions’ end-of-year tour clash against Scotland and White said: “He looked at times like he had eaten too much food at the buffet while he was on tour for the last month.

‘Have to start staying away from the buffet’

“I said that to him. I think he is going to have to start staying away from the buffet.

“When he got away a couple of times, I thought he would finish but as I said, I think we will have to keep him away from the buffet for a while.”

Those comments received plenty of reaction from supporters and on Friday White broached the subject during Bulls team announcement for their Champions Cup clash against Saracens which takes place at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

White said his remarks were not meant be derogatory towards Moodie.

Jake White tells Canan Moodie to ‘stay away from the buffet’ after Springboks tour

“A lot has been said about Canan and my comments after the game over the past week,” he told reporters. “I’d like to put this in context. This is the ninth week Canan has been on tour.

“It’s been nine weeks straight in a hotel and he hasn’t played a lot of rugby (on the Springboks’ year-end tour in November).

‘Not a case of him losing his mojo’

“There were questions about his performance after the game (against Connacht in Galway) but it’s not a case of him losing his mojo.

“The buffet comment was tongue-in-cheek and the narrative was mistakenly created that I criticised him.” He did not lose his momentum nor was he injured.

“It was never meant to be an attack on him.”

White made five changes to his run-on side for the clash against Saracens with Moodie moving to outside centre from the right wing and Springboks hooker Johan Grobbelaar named as the Pretoria-based outfit’s captain for the first time.

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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/jake-white-revisits-controversial-canan-moodie-buffet-comment