Chiliboy ready to bring joy to the party

The first five years of his career may have been an injury-riddled period that raised questions about his future, but Springbok hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle is ready to show exactly what the hype was all about when he was a junior.

The well-spoken Bulls No.2 and occasional captain - both at domestic and national level - is enjoying the opportunity to start every week.

Regarded as a powerful scrummager, but also deceptively quick in open play, Ralepelle will be keen to challenge for a regular spot in the national team.

However, in order to achieve that, the 25-year-old will have reproduce the quality of rugby that made him one of the Bulls' standout performers in 2011.

And he is loving the challenge, telling this website in an exclusive interview: "I am enjoying the time on the field. It's a different challenge every week."

While he is now injury free, and has been playing quality rugby for the past year, the 10-times capped Bok readily admits that his game can still improve considerably.

"I am not quite happy, there are many aspects I can work on and improve on," Ralepelle said.

"I just have to keep working hard. It is certainly a challenge and ensures there is no complacency, because I know I am not 100 percent yet."

When asked about getting regular starts, after several seasons of playing off the bench - behind fellow Boks Gary Botha (at the Bulls), John Smit and Bismarck du Plessis (at international level) - Ralepelle said he was relishing the prospect.

"Starting and playing off the bench offers different challenges... it's a different mindset.

"I am really looking forward to every game. The biggest challenge for me is to ensure I do what is needed in my position and do what is required for the team to take the team forward.

"So whatever I can bring to the party, I must make sure I bring that week in and week out."

Ralepelle hopes to make it a party with plenty of reasons to celebrate when the Bulls face the defending champion Reds in Pretoria on Saturday.

While the Reds arrive off the back of a loss to the Sharks, the Bulls are fresh from a bye.

Ralepelle felt the timing of the rest week was good for the Bulls.

"We needed that [break] in order to regroup [after the 23-29 loss to the Blues] and help us refocus on the task at hand this week," he told this website.

"We must start again, like it's the first game of the Super Rugby season... so it is a start again. We are certainly rejuvenated and looking forward to this weekend's match [against the Reds]."

The Bulls hooker said he did not want to dwell too much on the loss to the Blues.

"What happened in the past is in the past," he said, adding: "Myself, as an individual, must make sure that when I get on the field that I am 100 percent spot on.

"I don't think we were 100 percent spot on against the Blues.

"We went outside our structures and put ourselves under a lot of pressure. The Blues are a world-class side and if you make mistakes they will capitalise on it."

By Jan de Koning