Chiliboy's Bok and Sharks snub: Who is to blame?

The last two months have been a rollercoaster ride for the 31-year-old hooker. After a four-year absence from International rugby due in part to a two-year doping-ban, Ralepelle received a well-earned Springbok callup for the Rugby Championship following some impressive outings in Super Rugby.

Named on the bench for the final two Tests against Australia and New Zealand, Ralepelle’s long journey back to the top was almost complete. Alas, Springbok coach Allister Coetzee never gave Ralepelle a shot, as Malcolm Marx produced two of his finest performances in a Springbok jersey.

While a Bok cap is never promised, Ralepelle will have been disappointed to miss out on a return to Test rugby – but that disappointment was exacerbated on his return to Durban.

With the Rugby Championship done and dusted, Ralepelle reported for duty the week of the Currie Cup semi-final. Sharks coach Rob du Preez picked Franco Marais in the starting lineup with Akker van der Merwe as a super-sub replacement off the bench.

Du Preez admitted the selection had been a tough one, citing Ralepelle’s lack of game time as the main reason for his omission. A week later, Ralepelle’s name was again absent from the Sharks’ 23-man squad ahead of the final against Western Province.

Of course, he is unhappy – as has been widely reported by various media outlets.

Who’s to blame?

But who is really at fault here, Allister Coetzee or Rob du Preez?

The Springbok coach dropped Bongi Mbonambi mid-Rugby Championship in favour of Ralepelle, the latter an experienced Test hooker and a former Springbok captain.

On Super Rugby form alone, Ralepelle was more than ready for Test rugby. However, Marx was in such good form in those two Tests that it would have been difficult for any coach to take him off the pitch.

But that decision had a knock-on effect, as Ralepelle was robbed of valuable game-time which was the basis of Du Preez’ rationale for leaving him out of the Currie Cup knockouts.

Du Preez has been lambasted since, however he picked Ralepelle to start in the first two matches of the Currie Cup before the 31-year-old was called up to the Springbok squad.

When Ralepelle was released from the Springbok squad in the middle of the Rugby Championship, Du Preez picked him to start in the Sharks' win over the Bulls late in September.

That was the last time Ralepelle played a game of rugby this year.

Lack of cohesion

This situation once again puts a spotlight on the discord between the Springboks and provincial teams. While it’s not known if Du Preez was ever given a directive to select Ralepelle in the Currie Cup semi-finals and final, the Springbok hooker didn’t make the team for two weeks straight.

The only clear thing is that Ralepelle has been treated badly by both club and country – and I believe that Coetzee’s choice not to replace Marx with Ralepelle in those final two Test matches cost the 31-year-old his spot in the Sharks teams for the Currie Cup finals.

Once can only hope that Coetzee makes amends on the end of year tour and rewards Ralepelle, not for his patience, but for his great performances in 2017.

The Springboks take on Ireland on 11 November, France on 18 November, Italy on 25 November and Wales on 2 December.