Gelant: Bulls’ building phase is not about us wanting to win Super Rugby

SPRINGBOK and Bulls fullback Warrick Gelant is the talk of South Africa after his hat-trick of tries against the Sharks on Saturday and a shoo-in to be the national team’s starting fullback in the series against England in June.

But the 22-year-old is not thinking that far ahead and instead is hell-bent on replicating the master-class performance he gave against the Sharks in the Bulls’ upcoming encounter against the Melbourne Rebels at Loftus on Saturday.

Gelant is just pleased to finally be back in form and contributing to his beloved Bulls team as they continue to climb the Super Rugby standings.

“It was a nice feeling to score once again and contribute to the team and for the win as well. Some people call it my home ground, it was a wonderful feeling. Back to back three tries was just a wonderful feeling,” Gelant said about his second consecutive hat-trick at King’s Park with the first having come during the Currie Cup last year.

“We are in a building phase and what we mean by that is we have standards that we have set ourselves and we want to match that and even go higher. The building phase is not about us wanting to win the championship in a year or two, but it’s for us to get better every day and in every match. The Rebels are a great team and it is another challenge for us and that is what excites us. We are second on the (SA conference) log now and we want to keep on building. It is not something that we look to, we just want to be a championship team and that is what we are chasing.”

The Bulls’ heroics in recent weeks which has seen them secure two crucial victories against the Stormers and Sharks has not only increased expectations among the Loftus faithful, but it has also affirmed the obvious about Gelant being the best No 15 in SA.

In the two Tests that Gelant played for the Boks during last year’s end-of-year tour, the former Hoerskool Outeniqua pupil was started out of position on the wing and never got to showcase his talents on the international stage.

However, the rise of the Bulls has also coincided with his return to form with Gelant showing that he is not only a lethal attacking weapon, but an equally good defender and a player who can kick with both feet, something that new Bok coach Rassie Erasmus would have been thoroughly impressed with.

“I’ve been struggling with form and for me it was just great to be back and contribute to the team. First of all if the primary job is right that will sort itself out at national level,” said Gelant.

“I always chase standards and I want to be the complete player. There’s great fullbacks out there that have done it all and I’m just chasing that. I just want to be the complete player for the team.”