VIDEO: Bulls' new 'game driver' reveals his inspiration

VIDEO: Player versatility is the buzzword in the Springbok game these days, with Rassie Erasmus at the helm, and this bodes well for young up-and-coming Bulls utility Keagan Johannes.

The 25-year-old Johannes is now the incumbent flyhalf, after the latest injury Johan Goosen suffered against Cardiff at the weekend.

Although he played flyhalf at Garsfontein in his last year at school, Johannes has always been regarded as a scrumhalf.

The Bulls’ Director of Rugby, Jake White, has tried Boeta Chamberlain, Jaco van der Walt, and Chris Barend Smit at flyhalf, with varying degrees of success.

Veteran Springbok fullback Willie le Roux also stepped into that role when Goosen was unavailable due to this multitude of injury woes.

In Johannes, White has found a versatile halfback that can comfortably slot into both No.9 and No.10 roles.

Erasmus’ coaching philosophy strongly emphasises player versatility, aiming to create a squad where individuals can excel in multiple positions.

This allows for tactical flexibility, as players can seamlessly fill in for others or switch roles during a game, particularly useful in high-pressure situations.

If there is one player Johannes looks up to in this regard, it is former Springbok scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar, once regarded as one of the most skilful backs in the game.

The veteran mostly played at No. 9, but was very comfortable at No. 10 and has also played Test rugby at fullback and on the wing for South Africa, while he also had no qualms looking after the goalkicking.

His natural size didn’t mean an inferior skillset, far from it, as he went on to score close to a 1000 points for Ulster and could kick beautifully off both feet.

Pienaar’s heroics in both positions at the highest level have not gone unnoticed by Johannes, who admits he doesn’t have a preferred position.

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“I prefer both,” he said, when asked if he favours scrumhalf or flyhalf.

“I’ve been enjoying flyhalf. I played flyhalf in my last year at school at Garsfontein.

“I’ve been enjoying flyhalf a lot, but wherever the team needs me, I am happy to play,” he told reporters on Monday.

“I’ve spoken about this before, and Ruan [Pienaar] is someone that I’ve looked up to, with him as a big scrumhalf and being able to move to flyhalf.

“If you do play nine and 10 and keep working on the things you need to and be as versatile as possible, it’s good for any team.

“For now, I’ll do my very best where I am right now and for as long as I am going to be here. But the goal is to one day play for the Springboks and to be able to do what he did then,” the youngster commented.

As the United Rugby Championship play-offs loom, Johannes is very aware that he will need to step into the big boots of Goosen to take the Bulls through the rest of the campaign. But he doesn’t find the prospect daunting.

“No, I see it as a big opportunity. I’ve been playing in the position for a while now, especially on tour, and I’ve learned a lot from Goose [Johan Goosen].

“And [I’m] still learning from him, and he is guiding me well. Just a big opportunity for me to step into that space.”

The difference between the two positions does not faze Johannes, and he points out that a flyhalf and scrumhalf understand what the other needs.

“There is a lot of responsibility, but I feel like as a No.9 you know what No.10 wants, and as a No.10 you know what a No.9 wants.

“When things aren’t going well, your team expects the flyhalf to step up and make decent calls and drive that.

“I feel like I have started to chat a bit more in terms of where to drive the team and trying to coach on the field with Willie [le Roux].”

Looking ahead at the game against the Dragons at Loftus Versfeld this weekend, Johannes feels the Welsh would want to end their regular season with a win.

“It’s the last game of the season, so they will want to cap it off well. I feel like our focus is not really on them; we are only focusing on what we need to do to get better for the business end of the season.”