At 36, and after 400 games, Bulls' Swiss Army Knife is still cutting up defences

Veteran Springbok Willie le Roux reached a big personal milestone last weekend, playing his 400th professional match as the Bulls beat Benetton in the United Rugby Championship.

The 36-year-old started at fullback in the game, just a week after lining up at flyhalf, once again showing his tactical versitality.

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After the match, le Roux explained the difference between the two positions.

"Yeah, it's about calling the plays, showing the team around the field, getting in the right areas," he said of playing flyhalf.

At fullback, it's different says Le Roux: "Fullback is a bit more of a second playmaker, see where the space is, [and always] communicate."

A two-times Rugby World Cup winner, Le Roux has made a career out of being a true Swiss Army Knife. He made his name at 15 as a dangerous second playmaker, reading the game from deep, spotting opportunities, and creating tries with clever passing, well-weighted kicks, and the ability to put teammates into space.

We salute you Willie 🐂 pic.twitter.com/fQWOakYLMC

Even at 36, his rugby brain remains one of the best in the country. His pace may have dropped off a bit, but very few players can match his vision and understanding of the game.

The 101-capped Springbok remains a key figure for Bulls coach Johan Ackermann, bringing leadership, creativity and tactical flexibility as the team head into the business end of the URC season.

Hitting 400 professional games is no small feat. It says everything about both his durability and his ability to keep adapting.