Springbok right wing Warrick ‘Boogie’ Gelant says he has the “freedom to play” his natural attacking game when the world champions clash with the Wallabies on Saturday.
Gelant broke defensive lines for the Stormers in the inaugural Vodacom United Rugby Championship as part of a dangerous but free-roaming back three, but his critics have often questioned whether he would be given similar leeway to go off script in the Test arena.
The 10-Test flyer and 2019 World Cup winner will play just his second Test of 2022 in the Rugby Championship clash with Australia, after starting at fullback in the historic defeat by Wales in Bloemfontein.
Speaking in a Bok conference on Tuesday in the buildup to the encounter at the Adelaide Oval, the 27-year-old told reporters he has the support of the coaches and teammates to trust his instincts.
“The Stormers and the Boks are different, yet I also don’t think too much of our freedom has been taken away, it’s just our roles that’s different,” Gelant said.
“I don’t think any one of our backs here are pressured into a box of not expressing themselves. Just the way we play, it’s working for us. We are tight knit when it comes to that.
He added: “It’s just the number on my back that’s changed, nothing else. I feel that’s what makes me excited for Saturday, I know the guys who I’m playing with and looking forward to the opportunity on the wing … to showcase myself in a different role and different responsibility.”
Asked whether the Wallabies should fear ‘The Boogeyman’, Gelant replied: “It’s the perfect opportunity for me to play this weekend. But there’s a new guy, Lukhanyo Am, who has adopted the name Boogeyman, so luckily that pressure’s off me.”
On a more serious note, Gelant highlighted the unknown factor of the Wallabies for the Boks with SA teams having not faced Australian teams in Super Rugby since 2019.
“The Wallabies are going to pose a different threat and what I think makes it difficult is that we haven’t played Australian sides in Super Rugby the last few years,” he said. “We haven’t experienced how the Australians have been playing this season.
“But we’ve been gelling as a backline and look forward to giving it a go.”
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Photo: Kim Ludbrook/EPA/BackpagePix
