Stormers star Warrick Gelant: A student of the game expanding his rugby arsenal

He’s a student of the game, and the day Warrick Gelant stops learning new skills to add to his impressive arsenal on the rugby field will likely be the day he plays his final match.

After impressing for the Stormers with his magical attacking skills in the very first season of the United Rugby Championship (URC), Gelant has strived to develop his abilities over the last couple of seasons to not just add a different dimension to his gameplay, but also to what the Cape side brings on a game day.

And while he admits that sometimes he hasn’t been on the same wavelength as his teammates with his attacking abilities, the mercurial fullback has a newfound appreciation for his role within the side.

Often seen as the go-to guy to spark the Cape side’s attack, with Springboks Damian Willemse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, as well as fellow Outeniqua High alumnus Manie Libbok, Gelant has sort of taken a back-seat with the role of the chief spark of their attack.

He has started focusing on playing a more versatile role in the side instead, whether it’s kicking off both feet to relieve pressure or sticking his head in a breakdown to win over crucial possession.

Being the Stormers’ top ball poacher at the breakdown according to official statistics, Gelant laughingly says he won’t stake a claim for the No 6 jersey.

But it’s just another quiver he is trying to add to his arsenal.

Last weekend against Connacht, the fullback made a crucial tackle almost on his tryline and poached the ball at the breakdown to bring relief to his side after they were under immense defensive pressure.

That steal helped them bag a 34-29 victory to boost their playoff hopes.

“When all of us (Gelant, Willemse, Libbok, and Feinberg-Mngomezulu) play together, it allows for other skills to come to the fore,” Gelant said this week ahead of Saturday’s clash against Benetton at Cape Town Stadium (6.15pm kick-off).

“It is nice and it’s a great opportunity for Dobbo (John Dobson) to have all of us available.

“Norman (Laker, Stormers’ defence coach) denied me a couple of times to poach the balls (as the last defender), but I think he’s allowed me to go into that.”

While plenty of Stormers supporters and the broader South African rugby enthusiast might see Gelant’s magical touches as risky business, the fullback says none of what he does is by luck.

He and his teammates are on a continuous path to learn about each other and to try and stay on the same wavelength when it comes to their attack.

Stormers skills coach Labeeb Levy plays a big role in that, and even if Gelant’s role changed a bit in the side after spending a season overseas at Racing 92, he says the last two seasons have changed a few things for him.

“Maybe I was a bit ignorant when I came back and expected guys would be on the same wavelength as me like it was before I left.

“But the last two seasons and playing with familiar faces like Seabelo Senatla and those guys from season one may have changed the picture.

“That is where Labeeb comes in with his sessions and skills stuff, trying to get us on the same page (on attack) and how they want to do things.

“I don’t think anything I do in the games are things I do not try on the training ground.

“The things I do in the game are not by luck... I practice that.

“That is also how we get on the same page. We motivate each other on the practice field to do what we want to within the structure.

“I can’t explain to you what I see on the field, but I play towards my skill-set and do things that I do during training.”

While he hasn’t tasted any Springbok rugby since winning the Rugby World Cup in 2019 with the Boks, Gelant still harbours dreams of the Green-and-Gold.

He’s been out of the picture for a couple of seasons, but his performances show that he can still contribute to the national side, especially when it comes to their ever-evolving attacking game-plan.

Gelant will definitely benefit playing under Tony Brown in the set-up of Rassie Erasmus, but it remains to be seen whether he will ever form part of world champions’ plans.

He is expanding his skill-set, and Erasmus has placed an emphasis on versatile players who can add to the Springboks.

“I am a student of the game, and I try to learn as much as possible. I don’t think I’ve figured everything out when it comes to playing rugby. I chat daily with the coaches and interact with referees,” he said.

“I want to know where the game is going, and I try to contribute to my team as much as possible, so that I can help my team.

“And, if I ever get that call-up to the Boks, it would be the cherry on top of the cake.”