Gelant relishes big challenge of Hurricanes

THE Bulls opening Super Rugby clash against former champions the Hurricanes will be the perfect yardstick to test their title aspirations says Springbok and Bulls fullback Warrick Gelant.

With plenty of expectation to see the Bulls awaken from their slumber under the guidance of former All Blacks coach John Mitchell, Gelant has cautioned against the ideal of seeing the three-time champions go from perennial flops to title contenders in one season.

The Bulls have had to endure a few tough seasons and after the demise of coaches Frans Ludeke and Nollis Marais, there is an air of optimism at Loftus Versfeld that things are finally on the right track.

“We all know what happened and we will use that as a big motivation to get us through this year. We also have to put that behind us while using it as motivation. We must now focus on the processes. We won’t go from where we were to Super Rugby champions in the first round but we know where we are heading to. It is all about us, we must follow the processes that we have put in place,” said Gelant.

But the enormity of the clash against the New Zealanders in two weeks’ time has not escaped the Bulls fullback and Gelant remains wary of how dangerous the Hurricanes will be especially at full strength and living off the momentum of the past three years and the big-name players in their side.

“Former Super Rugby champions, played in the semi-finals last year, credit to them. Great competition for us, great players in Beauden Barrett and all of them. What a great challenge for us to start it off.”

“That is where preparation meets competition and it will be the ultimate challenge for us as a team and the union going forward. We have individual goals but it is going to be about us as a team and how we against a team that has been consistent for a few years,” Gelant added.

While the Bulls will be quietly confident going into this year’s Super Rugby campaign, the Hurricanes will have to approach the encounter with some caution after the likes of Gelant and his Springbok teammates put on a bit of a show in their first outing of the year in the Bulls 21-12 win against the Jaguares in their preseason clash at Loftus on Saturday.

The 22-year-old Gelant, who scored a try in his first few minutes on the field, is relishing the prospect of playing and in the more familiar position of fullback and believes that he will have an even better season than last year where he was one of the standout players for both franchise and country.

“Ja I think I was in the right place at the right time getting that offload from Jesse. But obviously it is the first one back and a lot of mistakes. You can see that it’s been a long time since we were on the field,” said Gelant.

“I’m always about the performance of now and the next one to come. Saturday wasn’t perfect and that is where my mindset is and how I am as a player.”