The world may know him as “Eskom” - the tagline he earned at lower levels of rugby because he literally tackled opposition players’ “lights out” but when Marco van Staden stands before his teammates, they see something very different.
“Warrior” - the word that Vodacom Bulls captain Marcell Coetzee used to describe his teammate and fellow loose forward and as Van Staden gets set for a milestone 100th cap in a Bulls jersey against the DHL Stormers this coming weekend at Loftus Versfeld, it is easy to understand why.
“Yeah, I think he's quite a great servant for this union. When I think of Marco, the first thing that comes to mind is the warrior. He's fearless, he gives his heart and soul to this union every day,” Coetzee described Van Staden, who sat a bit shy next to him during a team call ahead of the big north-south derby.
WARRIOR
“He arrives a humble guy, puts the team first above his own needs, he understands the culture, and it's an honour to have played a few games with him and share the journey as well. Yeah, he's a great servant of this union and I think for him and his family, they can be very proud of what he's achieved so far, and they may long continue.”
In the world of professional players who get big money offers at schoolboy stage, get fast-tracked on Craven Week into professional contracts and set for the big time, Van Staden remains a unicorn.
A player missed by the system, who never played Craven Week and was largely ignored by unions, he had to fight his way through the system.
Spotted by former Bulls coach Pote Human while at Tuks, Van Staden’s long journey followed a trajectory of fighting his way through the ranks, excelling at every opportunity he got and while not commanding the limelight like some other players, simply working harder and harder until he got what he wanted.
WORLD CUP WINNER
For a player who had to go the long way around, a World Cup winners medal sits nicely in the cupboard, and a 100 caps this weekend is a superb milestone for someone missed by the system.
Not a man of many words, Van Staden always tends to choose the path of buckling down and working hard, doing what the coach wants and simply trusting the process. It is a system that has worked for him and is why he should be celebrated this coming weekend.
But ask him what the 100 caps means and he struggles for the words.
“It’s a bit surreal for me, playing 100 games for the Bulls. It is where it started and I definitely wouldn’t have it any other way. I've learned a lot along the way. I've met great people, and the teams and coaches and players.
"They make going the long way around worth it. I am just privileged, and I'm thankful for the opportunity to play 100 games for the Bulls. Looking back at the journey, I'm just honoured to be here.”
SPECIAL MOMENTS
He remembers the joy of the first cap in the light blue jersey and has a number of memories. But there are a few that stand out.
“I think my first Super Rugby cap was when I got my first game for the Seniors. That was for me where Senior rugby started. I think after Covid, when we won the Currie Cup and the Super Rugby Unlocked, after a tough month where we didn't even know whether we were going to play rugby again was very special as well.
“But yeah, every game for me is special. I know how short a career can be, so I try and make every game as special as I can. I try and give everything I can.
“Because you never know when it's your last. There's a few standouts, but for me, every game for the Bulls is special.”
The task doesn’t get easier this weekend with the Stormers desperate to stop a three game losing streak against South African sides, while the Bulls know they can take another step towards the playoffs with a victory.
The dramatic script surrounding another north-south derby has already been written, and the role players wait to give the public another plot twist.
Van Staden has a new role these days - his own hybrid role that has almost come naturally to him. Eyebrows were raised when Rassie Erasmus made him a back-up hooker for the World Cup and the Bulls have done the same - although with their player roster Van Staden is only put in the middle of the front row if needed, and has given Johan Ackermann and extra loose forward on the park when necessary.
HOOKER MAKES HIM A HYBRID
Van Staden’s transformation is remarkable, especially for a player that played scrumhalf until Grade 11 at Hoërskool Bekker.
“Yes, It actually started when Akker got an injury and because I’ve fulfilled that role with the Springboks in the past, I was asked to do that. Now that Akker is out for a while, I’m happy to do both roles,” Van Staden explained.
“In general play it is very much the same, so it is only the lineout throw ins and the scrum that is different, but with coach Werner (Kruger, scrum coach at the Bulls) and coach Daan (Human, Bok scrum coach) we did a lot of work to get comfortable in the scrums. I’m very comfortable to do it for the Bulls or for the Springboks if they need me.”
And Van Staden’s outlook is pretty much whatever the coach wants. He simply just wants to play.
“Yeah, like you say, it's developing a lot of multiple positions, but, yeah, for me, for me it's just wherever the coach wants me to play, I'll play. And what the team needs is an advantage, but yeah, for me, I think it's what the team needs, and if I can play in that role, give the team an advantage, I'm happy.
“So we have multiple sessions, we have both teams and team sessions, so I try to mix it up, and obviously we get the details off the field, so I try to know both roles as well as I can. So whatever position is needed on the weekend, if I go on a hooker or flank, I can know my detail.
"And then we have opportunities to do where I can go in both roles on the field as well during the week, so now it helps a lot.
“With the other hookers and other flanks, we help each other on the field to make it a lot easier.”
Van Staden is a battler, a warrior and a true Blue Bull, as they say. And no player deserves his moment to run in front as much as he does.
And a celebration moment for a journey not often seen at this level.