The saying goes that you cant teach an old dog new tricks, but while Jannes Kirsten has still got a few good years of rugby in him, he probably didnt think that he would learn to play No 5 lock at the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup this year.
The 30-year-old utility forward, who normally plays blindside flank or No 4 lock, has had to manage and jump in the line-outs regularly at provincial level due to the absence of Springbok Ruan Nortj, as well as the unavailability of United Rugby Championship (URC) stalwarts and departures of others.
Kirsten had a celebrated career at Exeter Chiefs in England after leaving the Bulls in 2018 via Toyota Verblitz in Japan winning the Champions Cup and Premiership at Sandy Park.
But his Pretoria homecoming last season was delayed for nearly a year due to an ongoing foot problem, which finally healed towards the business end of the URC season.
Kirsten was on the bench in the URC quarter-final win over Benetton, but missed out on the semi-final triumph over Leinster and the 21-16 final defeat to Glasgow Warriors.
