Springboks opinion: Full-back boom bodes well for South Africa

Warrick Gelant’s potent performances in the United Rugby Championship bodes well for a Springbok team searching for a long-term alternative to full-back Willie le Roux, writes Jon Cardinelli.

The Stormers are starting to hit their stride in the URC. Over the past three weeks, they have played a powerful and intelligent brand of rugby to claim three massive results in the context of the competition – and in the context of the race for a Champions Cup spot.

The Cape Town-based franchise fought back from 18-0 down to beat the Bulls in Pretoria three weeks ago. The result marked the Stormers’ first victory at Loftus Versfeld since 2017. Next, they claimed a late draw with a Springbok-laden Sharks side in Durban.

This past Saturday, the Stormers produced one of their most convincing performances to date when they beat the Sharks 20-10 in Cape Town.

Stormers sitting pretty at the top

Five months ago, most predicted a two-horse race between the Bulls and Sharks for top spot in the South African division of the United Rugby Championship. And yet, as the tournament approaches the halfway point, it is the Stormers who currently sit at the top of the South African standings.

While the Stormers forwards deserve credit for laying the foundation in each of those three victories, the team’s number 15 has stolen the show with his potent and assured performances from the back.

Gelant has been the standout performer for the Stormers, and arguably the star player across the four franchises since the URC resumed in South Africa last month. Gelant’s surge in form has also added another dimension to the Springbok backline debate.

The Boks will strive to play a more balanced game in 2022, with a greater focus on attack. Gelant looks set to receive game time, sharing the 15 duties with veteran Le Roux, who currently plays his club rugby for Toyota Verblitz in Japan.

There are, of course, two other talented players jousting for opportunities in that crucial position. In fact, all three of the Boks’ South Africa-based full-back options featured in the derby between the Stormers and Sharks this past Saturday.

Gelant outshone his opposite number Aphelele Fassi. The Stormers number 15 took some excellent attacking options from the back, and found acres of space with a series of well-aimed kicks.

Fassi, by contrast, made several poor decisions. In the second half, Damian Willemse came off the Stormers bench to fill the gap at inside centre.

One would expect all four players – Le Roux, Gelant, Fassi and Willemse – to feature in the Bok squad this coming season. The big question is how each player will be utilised in 2022 and in the lead-up to the 2023 World Cup.

The Bok coaches still have plenty of faith in Le Roux. Senior players in the squad often highlight the veteran’s organisational strengths and the manner in which he is able to process and communicate information.

Last year, Handré Pollard told me that Le Roux has been pulling the strings in the Bok backline since Rassie Erasmus took charge of the side back in 2018. Traditionally it’s the number 10 that is seen as the general of the backline, but in the South African set-up, Le Roux influences many of the calls based on what he sees from his position at full-back.

What’s more, Le Roux often takes the ball at first-receiver during the latter stages of an attacking movement. He often makes the final pass that results in a line break or a try.

The Bok game plan is built around Le Roux, or rather a Le Roux-type of player who can occupy a multifaceted backline role. It’s fair to say that all candidates for the number 15 jersey must possess a wide range of skills.

Gelant is no stranger to the Bok set-up. He made his debut in late 2017, and was recalled when Erasmus replaced Allister Coetzee as head coach in early 2018.

Injuries robbed Gelant of the chance to play regularly in 2018 and 2019, although he did travel to the World Cup in Japan as an understudy to Le Roux. He overcame further setbacks in 2020 and 2021 to regain his form, and eventually replaced Willemse in the 15 jersey at the Stormers.

As witnessed in recent URC matches, Gelant has the ability and the attitude to slot in at first-receiver. He’s quick to identify space, and – as seen in the game against the Sharks last Saturday – is capable of executing 50-22 kicks that can influence the outcome of a contest.

All that said, Gelant’s resurgence should not impact on plans to develop other talented players like Willemse and Fassi.

Willemse served as the official understudy to Le Roux in 2021, and may have received more game time at full-back on the tour to the United Kingdom last November if not for injury.

Whether the Bok coaches view Willemse as a bona fide starting option or not in the long term remains unclear. Like Frans Steyn, Willemse has the skills to cover positions like fly-half, centre, wing and full-back, and like Steyn, Wilemse can perform a valuable utility role from the bench.

As seen at the 2019 World Cup, and at certain stages of the 2021 season, the inclusion of a versatile player like Steyn or Willemse in the number 23 jersey gives the Boks the option of selecting more forwards – a six-two split – among their reserves.

Fassi has played most of his rugby for the Sharks at full-back. At Test level, however, he has started just two matches on the wing.

While Fassi has many attacking gifts, and while his tactical kicking and aerial contesting has come a long way, he is not a natural distributor like Le Roux, Gelant or Willemse. Until he develops those skills, he may continue to feature on the wing for the Boks.

All that said, the Boks are certainly spoiled for choice in the back three, when you consider that Cheslin Kolbe, Makazole Mapimpi and S’bu Nkosi will continue to be in the mix. It’s a good headache for coach Jacques Nienaber to have.

Recently, we’ve seen England coach Eddie Jones stacking his backline with versatile players who can perform different roles according to different game situations. One wonders if Nienaber may attempt a similar experiment at some point, and if the players who appear to be competing for one position – like Le Roux, Gelant, Willemse and Fassi – end up featuring in the same matchday 23.

It’s an exciting thought.

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