Vusi Moyo has gone from schoolboy to Springbok in a blur, but Saturday brings one of his biggest tests yet when the flyhalf takes charge of the Sharks’ attack against Leinster at Kings Park.
The 20-year-old’s rise has been extraordinary. Just 18 months ago, he was finishing school at King Edward VII School in Johannesburg. Since then, he has become a Junior World Champion, made his Sharks debut and earned his first Springbok Test cap.
Now he is trusted to run the Sharks’ attack against the defending URC champions, with his approach to the challenge refreshingly uncomplicated.
“For me this week, it’s just taking ownership and just taking confidence in what the coaches have prepped during the week,” Moyo said.
“And obviously, with Springboks coming back, you get that bit of confidence knowing that you are safe around the guys.”
The return of the Springboks has certainly changed the feel around the Sharks, with Andre Esterhuizen, Thomas du Toit and Edwill van der Merwe starting, and Ethan Hooker, Ox Nche and Eben Etzebeth providing experience off the bench.
Moyo is particularly pleased to have captain Esterhuizen back at inside centre.
“Andre was next to me on my debut for the Sharks and having him back, it’s very exciting,” he said.
Moyo won’t allow Leinster’s stature to distract him from the task at hand. Opposite him will be Ireland stars Sam Prendergast, Robbie Henshaw and Tommy O’Brien.
“We’re not really focused on what Leinster can do but on what we can achieve,” he said.
“We’ve set a lot of standards for ourselves as the Sharks, and we want to meet those standards.
“So yeah, very excited to take ownership in what the coaches have put out for us.”
It is a mature outlook for a player who has barely begun his senior career.
Moyo left KES after matriculating in 2024. He represented the Lions at Under-18 level before moving to the Sharks. In 2025, he helped the Junior Springboks win the World Rugby U20 Championship, finishing as the tournament’s leading points scorer with 63 points.
His breakthrough with the Sharks came in May, when he made his first senior start against Zebre at Kings Park.
He scored a try and kicked five conversions in a 54-19 victory, producing the composure that had already marked him as a player to watch.
Then came the Springboks.
Moyo made his Test debut against Wales at Kings Park in July, aged just 20.
Last week, he started in the Sharks’ opening URC match against the Ospreys, kicking all four of their first-half conversions and adding two second-half penalties as they won 41-24.
Now comes Leinster, but Moyo does not see his role as an opportunity to showcase himself. He sees it as a responsibility to make the players around him better.
“I think in the squad itself, the competition is healthy and you want to be kept on your toes,” he said.
“And with coach JP (Pietersen) selecting me this weekend, it does show a lot of faith and trust.”
That competition is particularly intense at flyhalf, where Moyo has worked alongside Jordan Hendrikse and Siya Masuku.
“Even if Jordan and Siya are not in the playing squad, they still come through and help and give tips on how to do some things,” he said.
Moyo knows exactly what his primary responsibility will be against Leinster.
“My job is organising the forwards and backs to go forward,” he said. “It’s myself taking ownership and knowing my detail.”
