VIDEO: The value of being 'different' is what Gelant offers to Boks
In the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday, Warrick Wayne Gelant and Aphelele Onke Okuhle Fassi will go head-to-head in one of this year-end feast’s most delectable side dishes.
The Stormers, on their home turf, will look to continue their resurgence against the Springboks-laden Sharks.
It is a crucial United Rugby Championship Round Nine encounter, but there are some intriguing head-to-head battles – including Gelant against Fassi.
Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson said Gelant was ‘up there’, along with fellow World Cup winners Deon Fourie and Steven Kitshoff, as the Stormers’ Most Valuable Players during their inaugural URC triumph in 2022.
Despite not having played a Test for two years, Gelant – capped 11 times between 2017 and 2022 – has the qualities to get back into the Green and Gold picture.
“I feel that No.15s require real X-factor,” Dobson said, adding: “In our [Stormers] game model he [a fullback] has to be able to break the game open.
“There is nobody better than Warrick.”
Dobson spoke about the ‘amazing rugby brain’ the 29-year-old utility back has.
“He can see a game and he knows what is going on in a game,” the Stormers boss said.
“People see the no-look pass or the ball going down,” he said, adding: “However, stuff like positional play and game intelligence.
“Brannas [Deon Fourie] is back now, but he [Gelant] had the most steals [turnovers won].
“He is perfect in every way.
“He is physically committed and he knows his details.”
(WATCH as Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson talks about the value of Warrick Gelant to the Cape Town franchises and his prospects of getting back into the Springbok frame…..)
The coach admitted Gelant is ‘different’, a player who even changes in the ‘broom cupboard’ at the Stormers’ High-Performance Centre in Belville.
“He prides himself on being different,: Dobson said, adding: “Warrick is Warrick.
“We missed him in the second year [of the URC].”
The Stormers boss admitted the national coach and selectors might have a different philosophy.
“Warrick is a high-risk type of player. At Test level, it may be different.
“There was that Test against Wales in Bloemfontein [his second last Test in July 2022], where all we [the Stormers] were thinking about were transitions and counterattacks.
“In that game, they were looking for him to return with a kick first and he felt alone.
“I can understand there might be a disconnect there.
“[However,] if he keeps going like he is, he will come back into the [Bok selection] frame.”
Like his opponent on Saturday, Aphelele Fassi, Gelant has been in the international wilderness for some time now – since August 2022.
“Fassi played himself back into the Bok frame.
“Warrick is important to us.”
@rugby365com
