Ralepelle must abandon Bok dream
16 Nov 2012
RYAN VREDE, in Edinburgh, writes that Chiliboy Ralepelle needs good counsel and to be honest with himself and accept he doesn’t have a future with the Springboks.
Another tour carrying tackle bags. I can’t think of a player more familiar with their constitution than Ralepelle. He was overlooked for the Ireland Test, falling further down the queue with the inclusion of Schalk Brits. Now Ralepelle hasn’t been deemed good enough to play against Scotland and won’t see the grass of Twickenham unless injuries intervene.
I’ve written extensively about this subject and I still feel it is pertinent in light of how appallingly Ralepelle has been treated over the course of his Test career.
In detailing Ralepelle’s plight, you cannot ignore the impact and timing of injuries on his career. In 2008 then coach Peter de Villiers said he would have been his starting hooker had he not been sidelined at the beginning of his tenure. It proved to be no more than lip service, as De Villiers subsequently played Ralepelle in small bursts. Jake White was culpable as well, consistently extolling Ralepelle’s value but seldom backing that with game time.
Meyer has been honest with Ralepelle from the start, never leading the player to believe he had more of a chance than he actually did. And with every hooker fit, Ralepelle is, at best, fourth in Meyer’s pecking order behind Bismarck du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss and Schalk Brits. Meyer told me on Monday that he doesn’t see Ralepelle as an impact player, which further undermines his cause.
‘I can’t speak for other coaches but I feel for Chiliboy,’ Meyer added. ‘This was the year I thought he would push hard for a starting spot. He had a chance when Bismarck was injured, but then he got injured himself, and when he came back he was on the bench for the Bulls while Adriaan got better and better. Then Tiaan [Liebenberg] came in and played really well. We’re blessed with some world-class hookers in South Africa. Hopefully next year Chili can play regularly and force his way back.’
I’ve spoken to some people close to the 26-year-old and he is deeply frustrated. This is understandable. In 21 Tests Ralepelle has played just 307 minutes, 125 of those against Italy and Namibia.
His contract with the Bulls runs until October 2013. It is a simple business decision if emotion is removed. Ralepelle should cash in with a European or Japanese club thereafter or negotiate an early release. In the absence of a Test future, and having won every title he can with the franchise, Ralepelle needs to be selfish and pursue a deal that would benefit him financially as well as a player and person. Either that or continue to be the world’s best paid crash-test dummy.
122 Comments
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16 Nov 2012, 10:47 am
@jacoshark-100:
Jy sien, dis hoekom ek mos sê: Heyneke Weier ®
Heyneke Weier ® eenvoudig om gehoor te gee aan goeie raad wat sonder twyfel daagliks aan hom deurgegee word
I am beginning to flirt with the idea of supporting the All Blacks above the Boks but only temporarily until Toetie takes over…
16 Nov 2012, 10:47 am
@Sheriff-98: LMAO
16 Nov 2012, 10:48 am
@Dusky-79:
Yeah, made a real poepol of myself right there. It was an honest mistake though. I believe everybody makes one every now and then.
Except Katjie, of course.
@Sheriff-97:
16 Nov 2012, 10:48 am
@fishdish-90: C,mon Chiliboy.You have
the support and goodwill of most supporters.
F.U.Vrede.What a lack of compassion in your ar ticl e
16 Nov 2012, 10:52 am
On the tune of: ‘Don’t buy City Press, don’t buy’
Don’t love Heyneke Meyer, don’t love !!!
16 Nov 2012, 11:02 am
if Toetie takes over it will be the end of bok rugby! there is no rassie who can lead the way for him …. they must then also change the emblem – so that we can remember the Bok for what it was — legends …
16 Nov 2012, 11:04 am
Chilliboy was a good under 19 player, because at that time chilli was actually 28 …. you start to fade if you play against guys of the same size & age
16 Nov 2012, 11:12 am
@jacoshark-96: In terms of forward play I will have to disagree. Remember how the Tigers beat a SA B team and crushed them in the scrums?
16 Nov 2012, 11:19 am
@goodstuff-108:
leicester tigers have had the most feared front row in european club rugby for many years- theyd destroy most international front rows
playing against a second rate bok front row is not comparable
16 Nov 2012, 11:38 am
Chili ntang’am umeyer zange wakufuna nabanye endingazubabiza ngamagama , kwangokuya wawubizwe ngu jake wayesithi umncinci kodwa kokho u f.stein omncinci kunawe , inkulu wena into kula mfo, nogxa bakhe ngoku njalo . nawe ungabe uzethusa abantu abasoze bakuthande naninina.
16 Nov 2012, 12:48 pm
first time 100% agree with you Ryan
Top SA Hookers
1.Bismack
2.Britz
3.Strauss
4.Liebenberg
5.Wipener
6.Burden
7.Chilliboy
16 Nov 2012, 13:27 pm
Nonsense article Ryan. How can you ask the guy to give up on his bok dream? Why don’t you give up on your dreams?
The pecking order for Bok hookers imo is
1. Bismarck
Everyone else can either be 2-5 based on form and injury. I believe Chiliboy can be the 2nd best hooker if he shows consistent form.
16 Nov 2012, 17:03 pm
Chilliboy should have done the honorable thing and declined when he was made Captain of the boks.
16 Nov 2012, 17:40 pm
@nkqo6-110: Do you speak F rench?
16 Nov 2012, 18:07 pm
@ryecatcher-114: Problem?
16 Nov 2012, 18:17 pm
@wnbb-115: Would you please give me an accurate translation.You know something pal.You a re such a touchy
and aggressive person.So,translat ion please.If I posted in French would
that be acceptable to you.?Good night.You make the evening rancid.
16 Nov 2012, 18:23 pm
@wnbb-115: Good evening and goodnight
O rancid one.Can we expect an accurate translation from you?
Thought not
16 Nov 2012, 20:34 pm
@ryecatcher-117: Capo speaks one language – about two thirds English and one third Afrikaans. So no.
16 Nov 2012, 23:41 pm
Chiligirl just gets picked because of his skin, time for a new guy that deserves his place like Burden to take over in the Bok setup.
17 Nov 2012, 06:04 am
@Pompies – do you know what you are talking about “Chillliboy twice outplayed Bissie in their head on head confrontation” Yeah right!
17 Nov 2012, 07:12 am
Ralepele is an average player at that level.When Bismark comes back which of the reserve hookers will give that one two punch coming off the bench. Perhaps, Kitshof make a good backup hooker for the Bok.
17 Nov 2012, 10:53 am
@PissAnt-4:
Chilliboy, if you’re reading this, I agree with PissAnt. You’re a fantastic player but unfortunately you’ve landed in the middle of South African rugby and politics. Coaches have their choices, choose to see it as just that, a choice, and forget the racist or mistreated nonsense. You can only control your own play, so just play hard and play well (which comes naturally to you). I also advise taking a two year stint up in the northern hemisphere, it’s done wonders for some other players who were in similar situations to you.
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