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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15 Nov 2012, 14:50 pm
stuff you frekkin idiot chili was the best hooker in sa this year and last year! either you are racist or stupid or both. give the guy credit vhe deserves taken a bashing for years but hes been really good for ages now unlike bisie, liebenberg and britz or smit the last couple years.
15 Nov 2012, 14:53 pm
Easy tiger. Jy gaan jou poepstring beseer.
15 Nov 2012, 14:54 pm
We was overlooked!
15 Nov 2012, 14:55 pm
Part of this problem is that Chili came into the fold in the John Smit era, arguably the best captain in Springbok history.
**** unfortunately happens, many really good players lost out having played in the wrong era with legends owning those jersey’s.
Injury is another problem for Chili, it seems to come at the worst times over the last 3 years.
I rate the lad, always have, and he is only 26… Chili my man, take a European sabbatical for 2 or 4 years. Cash in, the Bok dream does not have to be over. Just ask Brits.
15 Nov 2012, 14:55 pm
I have to agree, he should seek opportunities elsewhere. But the biggest opsticle was Smit being captain and Du Plesis. Now again when he had a chance he got injured, he should go get his cash and then become a Supersport commentator.
The g u y has a great heart but just has been unlucky, just like Brits, Barrit, Van Niekerk etc.
15 Nov 2012, 14:56 pm
I will say this however – how Gary Botha was ever rated above this guy for so long at the Bulls is something I will never understand.
15 Nov 2012, 14:57 pm
@PissAnt-4: Well said. Just like the wings in SA, many talented wings, but their chances will be limited in the era of Habana/ JPP.
15 Nov 2012, 14:57 pm
@PissAnt-6: Bulls used him as bad as any bok coach.
15 Nov 2012, 14:58 pm
A European stint will do him wonders.
15 Nov 2012, 14:58 pm
@PissAnt-6: And Derek Kuun.
15 Nov 2012, 14:59 pm
@willievz-10:
And Maku……
15 Nov 2012, 15:00 pm
@willievz-10:
Oh for the love of..
Don’t even go there.
15 Nov 2012, 15:00 pm
If all fit and well I would start with Bissy and have S Brits as an impact player….
Next for me D Fourie…..as A Strauss is not an ideal impact player.
Chilliboy is about 5 th best in my pecking order….which would look like this…
Bissy
schalk B
D Fourie
A Strauss
Chilliboy
T Liebenberg…
Scarra will be pushing hard if he continues with his barnstorming games….
15 Nov 2012, 15:00 pm
i hope mathlatsi reads this & bliksems you ryan…
15 Nov 2012, 15:08 pm
Feel for Chilli.
Behind Smit and Bissie certainly and then injured whenever he was due to get his shot.
Good, honest, hard working player. Just unlucky I guess.
15 Nov 2012, 15:13 pm
What a load of bull,Ryan.
15 Nov 2012, 15:19 pm
No reason for him to abandon his Bok dream Ryan. If that’s the case he may as well quit playing the game altogether. And as Brits, Pienaar and Steenkamp is proving right now – in Edinburgh nogal – is that a move to Europe may actually be a good thing for him. And at 26 he still has a few years of good rugby in him.
15 Nov 2012, 15:19 pm
Not so sure Ryan, but it is a KUK situation for Chili. He has shown awesome form and could be an amazing player.
At least on this 1 issue Heyneke cannot be accused of favouring the Bulls’ player!
15 Nov 2012, 15:21 pm
next year….fingers crossed…
15 Kirchner / Aplon
14 JPP
13 JDJ
12 F Steyn
11 Habana
10 Goosen
9 Hougaard
8 Vermeulen
7 Marcelle
6 Flo / Brussow
5 Bekker
4 Etsebeth
3 Jannie
2 Bissy
1 Beast
16 S Brits
17 Brussow/ Flo
18 Guthro
19 Coenie Oosthuisen
20 Juandre Kruger
21 R Pienaar
22 Aplon
23Taute
Kolisi…Schalk….Alberts…D Fourie…
Lots of awesome competetion…if only injuries stay away, which they wont…
15 Nov 2012, 15:21 pm
@John Galt-15: Chili was there before Bissie John! Dont forget he captained the Boks under Jake White.
He has been messed around by the last 3 Bok coaches. 12 years of being messed around. Heyneke pleaded with Jake not to take him when he was so young.
Now he is still being taken on tour (by Meyer!) and not playing.
15 Nov 2012, 15:23 pm
Add Lambie and Jantjes into that mix as well…..
Mix with a decent game plan…
bobs your aunt.
15 Nov 2012, 15:26 pm
Reyhan: “HM Keo! I’m bored in Dublin! It’s raining and there’s nothing to do!”
HM Keo: “Shut up. What do I pay you for. Write some tripe about a coupla black players and up the hits. Fool.”
15 Nov 2012, 15:28 pm
he is a bit 2 fat and big to be a quality hooker and has no pace… sorry chilliboy …
15 Nov 2012, 15:28 pm
Never really rated Chilli…. He wouldn’t even be 4th choice in my books. We have world’s 2 best hookers in Bismarck and Brits.
When he learns to throw straight, I’ll alter my opinion.
15 Nov 2012, 15:33 pm
@grant10-19: THANK GOD YOU NOT THE COACH……KAK TEAM
15 Nov 2012, 15:34 pm
@Dawn-22:
15 Nov 2012, 15:35 pm
Chiliboy has NOT been messed around as so many people like to think.
He has been injured a lot and to be honest he is quite average in comparison to John Smit, Bismarck, Britz, Strauss etc.
It’s time to accept that Chili just isnt good enough to be first choice.
15 Nov 2012, 15:38 pm
Useless quota.
2 games against the All Blacks when he came on and gave possession away at the lineout, putting pressure back on the Boks with the scoreline already too close for comfort…. 2 games…
Nowhere near good enough to be a Springbok as far as I’m concerned.
15 Nov 2012, 15:38 pm
@suffer_guy-23:
Ja hey, not all our hookers have six packs like, mmmmm, can’t really think of many. Maybe Tiaan Liebenberg? Strauss? And how fast should the hooker be? 100m in 11 seconds? Should he have an Olympic qualifying time?
15 Nov 2012, 15:39 pm
@Dawn-22:
Your best/funniest post since I’ve been on Keo.
15 Nov 2012, 15:39 pm
i remember 2 years ago – i went to the bulls training camp and heyneke was there aswell … played a warmup match against chilli – he’s not so strong. i even twisted his neck once or twice… heineke told chilli to give it his all, but still i comfortably owned him… i think heyneke remembers that
15 Nov 2012, 15:41 pm
a body of bismark or the flair of Brits ….. or involved in the game like Strauss … or with the heart of Fourie or Liebenberg …
15 Nov 2012, 15:41 pm
@Daddy-27:
Exactly!! He is good, but unfortunately (for him) SA has world class hookers (try saying that with a straight face
) and Chilli is quite low down the pecking order at the moment. Not that it can’t change in the future ala Brits.
15 Nov 2012, 15:43 pm
@grant10-19:
15 Kirchner / Aplon……Really ( Ludik is by far the Premier FB in SA)
10 Goosen……Is as fragile as quail eggs and a bit over rated
8 Vermeulen……Runs the same speed of Mat Proudfoot
5 Bekker……another as fragile as a 14 year old fat girl when things are not going his way
15 Nov 2012, 15:44 pm
@Jeraldjay-30:
That’s an insult
15 Nov 2012, 15:46 pm
dawn, stick with 7de laan .. los die rugby virri manne
15 Nov 2012, 15:46 pm
@suffer_guy-36:
Hou jou bek
15 Nov 2012, 15:47 pm
Geen wonder you call yourself “suffer”
We must all suffer through your kuk day after day after fecking day
15 Nov 2012, 15:49 pm
@goodstuff-5: agreed
@Rockn Rolla-34:yep goosen need to bulk up and play some more currie cup and super rugby, or he’l get injured every season. better player management is needed. he should really just be in the squad not starting
15 Nov 2012, 15:52 pm
@Dawn-22:
and so it was…..
@Dawn-38: and this is just as cool
15 Nov 2012, 15:53 pm
So Vrede, when you had you conversation with HM on Monday, did he actually tell you that he won’t select Chilliboy with all the hookers at his disposal? If so, why doesn’t he have the guts to look him in the eyes and tell it to him, himself? If not, do you really think Chilliboy needs your advice on anything?
“Meyer told me on Monday that he doesn’t see Ralepelle as an impact player,…”
With Meyer’s record of saying one thing and doing another, this probably means that Chilliboy will play for 10 minutes from the bench against England next week.
15 Nov 2012, 15:53 pm
@Dawn-22: HAHAHHAHAHA brilliant Dawn!
@Dawn-38: en weereens vlymskerp!
15 Nov 2012, 15:58 pm
Strauss has been rather average at test level
Give me chili any day
Agree with PA – he’d make a wonderful contribution, and lotsa cash up north
15 Nov 2012, 16:00 pm
chilly het goeie rugby gespeel toe hy nog op steroids was …. hy het agteruit gegaan toe hy 2 jaar terug gevang was daarmee
15 Nov 2012, 16:06 pm
LOL where is xhosaguy.. i remember him saying that chilli’s anchestors are mad .. he should make things right with them and he will perform again …. hahaha
15 Nov 2012, 16:09 pm
@Rockn Rolla-34:
“15 Kirchner / Aplon……Really ( Ludik is by far the Premier FB in SA)”
He proved that how exactly since Coetzee played FB for the Lions the majority of the games?
15 Nov 2012, 16:11 pm
Amazing how we can feel sorry for someone on a huge Bok contract, Bulls contract and all the free stuff that goes with it.
Only difference is he will have less aches and pains on cold rainy days than Bissie, Smittie etc., but with the same amount of money in the bank.
Ask the New Zealand hookers who played in the same era as Fitzpatrick if life is fair.
15 Nov 2012, 16:11 pm
Ludik has been with the sharks for the last few seasons … idiot .. krieket is maar eerder jou sport
15 Nov 2012, 16:12 pm
I cannot believe he actually gets paid for writing this kak……..
15 Nov 2012, 16:12 pm
@nama1-46:
Sorry. Was thinking of Taute.
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