Schalk Brits has breathed new life into a rugby career that appeared over when he retired after leaving Saracens in May, to such an extent that he is now fighting for a place in South Africa's Springboks squad for the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Brits, 37, said he was ready to simply enjoy "beer and biltong" when he called time on his career last year, but Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus coaxed him into returning to the game and he signed for the Pretoria-based Bulls in Super Rugby.
He has been eased into the side this season, after sustaining a calf injury, but he was superb in the Round 1 defeat of the Stormers and then was immense as he played 63 minutes in the Bulls' surprise 30-12 victory over the Lions at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.
"It was tough, we are sore, the Lions are a physical pack," a beaming Brits said after the Bulls had inflicted upon their hosts a first home defeat by South African opponents in four years.
"We came out and executed our plan well. We wanted to match and dominate from a set-piece point of view.
"The coaches came up with clever plans, not always just using brute force, but being a bit cleverer from an attacking perspective. Our defence held up against a very good attacking force."
Erasmus sees Brits as an important element in his Boks' World Rugby Cup squad, even if the veteran likely will be the third-choice hooker behind Malcolm Marx and Bongi Mbonambi.
Brits' calmness, experience and all-action style are valued, on and off the pitch.
Eleven years in international rugby have yielded only 11 Test caps for South Africa, but Brits said "for me it is about just having fun".
"People always said I must prove to [former Springboks head coach] Jake [White] why I must be picked, but for me it has never been about that.
"For me it is always about work ethic. If you get out there, work hard, enjoy it and have the physicality, I love the physical aspect, then it is great.
"After the first [Super Rugby] game against the Stormers, I was so sore I couldn't get out of bed even though I played only 37 minutes.
"My wife asked me, 'why do you do this to yourself?', but it is just the fun part; that is the biggest part of rugby."
Brits featured for South Africa in the 2015 World Rugby Cup, and the showpiece tournament in Japan later in 2019 will likely mark his swansong, but the hooker refuses to put a limit on his playing time as his career enjoys a second wind.
"I will just push as hard as I can and then have a look in the mirror," he said. "If I feel I did not push hard enough then I will have a word with myself... I just want to go out and do as much as I can. Sometimes it goes well, sometimes it doesn't.
"I don't fear losing. I fear not trying my best and I fear not being physical. Those are the things I always want to bring."