Multi-talented Stedman Gans loves his roving role in Bulls backline, but 13 his favourite

The versatile Stedman Gans approaches his 100th cap for the Bulls with his value at an all-time high at the Pretoria club because he can fill in almost anywhere in a Bulls backline hit by injuries this season.

The 29-year-old can thank his long career at the Blitzboks for his ability to play anywhere in the backline outside of scrumhalf and flyhalf, and he does it so well that there is no chance of the adage “Jack of all trades, master of none” applying to him.

Gans usually covers the outside back positions — outside centre, and right and left wing — but of late, he has found himself covering inside centre because of the injuries to Jan Serfontein (now retired) and David Kriel.

Gans, who is likely to reach his 100-cap milestone on Saturday when the Bulls host Benetton, says he loves being gainfully employed at the Bulls as he roves about the backline.

“I look at the responsibility of filling in where required as a privilege,” he said. “You work so hard to be ready for when the opportunity comes, and you don’t want it to come from injuries to your teammates, but in rugby, your chance comes in a lot of different ways.

“Now I have an opportunity to cover all of those positions and have important roles in games,” Gans explained. “I have been working hard for a long time to be ready, so in that way it is exciting to have this responsibility come my way.”

As valuable as his versatility is in to coach Johan Ackermann, Gans says if he had to pick a favourite position, it would be outside centre.

“I think 13 is my favourite, maybe because out of the various positions, I have played 13 the longest time.”

It might also be because midfielders get the ball more often than the wings. Gans started for the Bulls at inside centre against Cardiff and was delighted to be closer to the action.

“I have not played 12 a lot, but I enjoy it because you get your hands on the ball more. You get more ball at 12 than you do at 13.”

At 1.80m and 85kg, Gans is no Andre Esterhuizen or Damian de Allende, but he says he does not shrink from physical confrontation when he is in the inside centre role.

“My interpretation of 12 is that you have to take the line forward, and whether you do that by running over people or stepping them, or spinning out of tackles like De Allende does, that is what you must do. You must find a way to move the attacking line forward. That is your job.”