In his so-called prime as the "Bone Collector" of South African rugby, Willem Alberts would invariably be confronted by a disconcerting truth.
As part of a consistently successful Sharks outfit under John Plumtree and Jake White, he - along with the legendary Springbok front-row of Beast Mtawarira and the Du Plessis brothers, Jannie and Bismarck - would become anomalies in the local game.
They were part of a select minority of stalwarts still plying their trade in South Africa past the age of 30.
