Keagan Johannes is relishing the responsibility to call the shots at flyhalf for the Vodacom Bulls.
Keagan Johannes is relishing the responsibility to call the shots at flyhalf for the Vodacom Bulls, while honing his goal-kicking in high-pressure matches.
Johannes was all smiles during a Bulls conference as the versatile playmaker gears up for the blockbuster URC semi-final against the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
The 25-year-old scored 14 points, including a stunning solo try, in a 42-33 quarter-final win for Jake White’s charges over Edinburgh in Pretoria last week.
“I’m really enjoying my rugby at the moment,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “I feel like I’ve found form at the right time and I’m just glad I could contribute [against Edinburgh]. As you can see, the spirits were quite high in that second half so I was happy to pull it through.”
Johannes credits White for boosting his confidence as the Bulls’ go-to sharpshooter: “I know the last two games I probably had a few hiccups with the kicking, but Coach Jake spoke to me at half time and it was really nice to hear that he’s backing me.”
Originally a back-up on the bench at scrumhalf and flyhalf in the event of a 6-2 split, Johannes has stepped up and made the No 10 jumper his own during Johan Goosen’s injury setbacks this season.
Obviously there’s got to be pressure; everyone looks to you at 10 [during difficult times],” Johannes said.
“But I have to say that I’m enjoying it. I thrive in the position and I just try to do my best.”
Looking ahead, Johannes is eager to grow in the role, even with the return to Loftus of two-time Springbok world champion Handre Pollard next season. “It’s going to be packed in both of those positions [scrumhalf and flyhalf],” he added.
“But at the moment, I feel like I can bring a lot in the 10 jersey. That’s where the team needs me at the moment and I’d like to thrive there.”
Facing a confident Sharks side, Johannes says the Bulls are focused: “Everyone has a job to do, and the mood is quite good. We just need to win these games and everything will be fine.”
On a possible penalty shootout like in the Sharks’ quarter-final win against Munster last week, he added: “It’s a regular thing for a goal kicker to be kicking goals at training. Eventually, it will click.”
