His genius on the attack will be missed on the field this weekend when the Stormers take on his former French club side in the Champions Cup.
Still, the contributions of mercurial fullback Warrick Gelant ahead of the tie against Racing92 will have been invaluable for the visitors as they aim for a second consecutive win.
The Investec Player of the match had to be @WarrickGelant #STOvSAL #iamastormer pic.twitter.com/Sl6eST9Jwc
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) January 11, 2025
While the World Cup winner will sit this match out to keep himself fresh ahead of a crucial United Rugby Championship (URC) encounter with Leinster next Saturday, he would’ve shared some intimate knowledge about the French club.
Since returning to the Cape side two seasons ago, he has grown from strength, especially connecting with new teammates he hasn't played with before.
Initially, it looked as if Gelant was not in sync with his teammates when he returned, especially during the first season back in the absence of Springboks Manie Libbok, Damian Willemse, and Stormers veterans Ruhan Nel and Seabelo Senatla.
The backline players alongside him couldn't keep up with his magical offloads, how he sees space and attacks it, and the unorthodox kicks he puts in to catch defences unawares.
But as time passed, the talismanic fullback found his teammates and started pulling off some magical plays, helping his team to crucial wins in the last couple of matches.
He played a pivotal role when the Stormers beat the Sharks in what was his 50th game for the inaugural URC winners.
“Warrick's biggest contribution to this team is his rugby brain and what he does off the field.”
“Warrick's biggest contribution to this team is his rugby brain and what he does off the field,” Director of Rugby John Dobson said about what Gelant brings to the side.
“He would've loved to face his old club, Racing 92 (today), but he has a calf strain, and we managed his workload this week. To risk playing him on a 4G pitch with the big game against Leinster and the local derbies coming up (in the URC) wasn't worth it.
““But Warrick being Warrick, he has contributed so much this week.”
“But Warrick being Warrick, he has contributed so much this week. He's helped a lot, but there is no way we can risk him for this game.”
Though he is not facing his old club today, Gelant was until yesterday alongside Manie Libbok, hard at work prepping guys like Clayton Blommetjies, who will turn out as fullback, on what to expect from their opponents.
Warrick Gelant was unstoppable against Sale Sharks ⚡️ #InvestecChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/6DSmWrd9cV
Dobson added that what people see on the weekend, all the flash and panache of Gelant, is but the icing on the cake to what he does for the side. He was instrumental in the first season's URC victory, but in Paris when they reached a consecutive final but lost in Cape Town.
The 29-year-old playmaker was seen as a vital cog as to how the Stormers wanted to play and that is why a massive effort was made to bring him back to Cape Town in the third edition of the URC.
They are currently reaping the rewards with Gelant running the attack alongside Libbok and Damian Willemse, although the latter has been injured since last year.
Manie Libbok & Warrick Gelant.
IG: boks_office pic.twitter.com/F92biLwIqH
He has been so influential that he is topping their stats when it comes to turnovers at breakdowns - something you don't hear often from a fullback.
But, in the absence of Deon Fourie and Evan Roos, he has been the Stormers' prime fetcher, making some critical steals on the ground. He's worked closely with referee Aimee Barrett-Theron to perfect the craft.
"Nobody puts their body on the line like Warrick does. He is our top ball stealer, he drives the game plan. The flash people see is just the icing on top of the cake. He is such a rugby brain and a special player.
“If I had R10 for every Whatsapp I get about Manie's place-kicking or Warrick's loose play, I'd be rich.”
"If I had R10 for every Whatsapp I get about Manie's place-kicking or Warrick's loose play, I'd be rich.
"But, I am glad people are starting to appreciate Warrick more."
It's evident that Gelant's creativity and rugby intelligence are invaluable, and as admiration for his work grows, many fans might soon find themselves reflecting on the precision with which he navigates the ever-evolving dynamics of rugby.