Signed as a scrumhalf, Keagan Johannes finds himself now as one of the most important cogs of the Vodacom Bulls’ chances as the playoff rounds approach in this year’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship.
Johannes has to step into the boots of Johan Goosen after the Bulls flyhalf injured himself during the win over Cardiff last week, leaving his team without a regular 10 at a crucial stage of the season.
But Johannes has answered the call before during the URC campaign and done excellent work and now that he has to step up again, he is more than ready.
Asked if he thought it was a daunting prospect, he smiled and said no.
“I don't think so. I just see it as a big opportunity. I've been playing in the position a while now, especially on tour, and I've learned a lot from Goose. And obviously I'm still learning from him and he's guiding me very well. So just a big opportunity for me to step into that space.
“Obviously, there's a few things that I always work on that I need to improve. But I feel like I've been on the brim of competing with the top flyhalves in the country. And I feel like I'm not far off from where I should be. So, yeah, there's always stuff to improve on. But, yeah, I feel like I'm doing good so far.”
Johannes knows there is a lot of responsibility on his shoulders, and with that comes the need to step up to be a leader.
MORE VOCAL, NOT LESS
But he knows he isn’t alone and in this time where margins are slim and winning is everything, he knows he can count on his teammates to take him through.
“There's a lot of responsibility. But I feel like as a nine, you know what 10s want. And as a 10, you know what a nine wants. So everyone helps each other on the pitch. We know what our plans are for every weekend. And we just execute that to the fullest.
“And everyone just helps out, especially now with, as you saw this weekend, me going on early. It's just everyone knows what to do. Everyone is calm. Everyone's just helpful around me being in the flyhalf position.”
Johannes knows that scrumhalves are known for giving a bit of lip, but he thinks he needs to be more vocal now, not less, when he is in the 10 jersey - especially because the team looks to the 10 to set the trend for the game.
“Obviously, when things aren't going well, your team expects the flyhalf to step up and make decent calls and to drive them. So, yeah, I feel like I've actually started to chat a bit more in terms of where to drive the team and try and be an extra coach on the field with Willie (Le Roux).
“The playoffs aren't probably going to be as the game was this weekend. It's most probably going to be much, much tighter games. And the work that I've put in from the start of the year, I feel is paying off. In the last few games I've had here at Loftus, I’ve probably had a 100 per cent kicking record. I feel like I am where I need to be at the moment. But obviously, you've still got to work on those things.”
And this weekend will be one where the Bulls will look to Johannes again to get them over the line to secure second place on the log.
A boost in confidence will help, and the knowledge that this is his moment, even though it may not be how he originally saw it happening.
This is his time to shine.