Limping off: Chiliboy Ralepelle
South Africa hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle admits the team's new players will have to learn the harsh lessons of international tours after their defeat to Leicester.
The world champions and Tri-Nations winners were beaten 22-17 by a motivated Tigers XV spurred on by a record 24,000 attendance at Welford Road, swelled by the official opening of the new 10,000-seater Caterpillar Stand.
South Africa used their first warm-up match ahead of autumn Tests against France, Italy and Ireland to field all nine of the uncapped players in their 37-man touring party.
But their experiment backfired when Lucas Amorosino weaved through for the game's crucial try, just seven minutes after skipper Ralepelle had limped off with a recurrence of an ankle injury.
"It can't get worse from here," said Ralepelle.
"It's a challenge for our youngsters as it was very new to play in these conditions.
"They have to learn that when you play away from home it's never easy. Leicester came at us very hard and were much more prepared than we were, I believe.
"We always knew the Leicester pack were going to be tough up front. They pride themselves on that in club rugby. But we let ourselves down in that department. I'm part of the pack so I include myself in that.
"One of the biggest disappointments for me is that we were all waiting for one man to create some magic.
"At this level you can't wait for someone to do that. If you can't do it yourself it's best that you sit at home."
Leicester's victory was all the more remarkable given the absence of five England players, and eight more through injury and unavailability.
Mauger, shuffled to fly-half to accommodate a teenage centre pairing in Manu Tuilagi and Andy Forsyth, agreed with Muir that Leicester's ferocious performance was vindication of the quality of the Guinness Premiership.
The veteran All Black was unimpressed by recent comments from compatriot Warren Gatland, now Wales head coach, that this season's Premiership was "the weakest he had ever seen since he came to the northern hemisphere".
"We don't really agree with some of the comments being put around about the Premiership being a weak competition," said Mauger.
"It's tough, week in, week out. Even Leeds and Worcester can beat anyone.
"We've always had a strong system with Academy players coming through to the senior ranks, and we had a full mix of that.
"The centres were awesome. Manu was always going to bring that physicality to the game but he and Andrew were very composed during the game.
"All the guys kept talking to them and got them through. They both have big futures in the game."
Comments
bruce says...
Much much better that they use these games for development and experimentation than the test matches. there has to be a place where players can be tested and where experience can be gained, and these "second team" sides are a great place for the true class to show before being promoted to the big leagues.
The scrumming though was woeful - I don't think I've seen as bad a scrum in a Springbok team, of any description, in a long long time.
And give credit where it's due - The much maligned Earl rose had a good game at fullback. Alas he has Gaffie du Toit syndrome and needs to be a lot more consistent. He still has too many "bad games" to make the step up to the big leagues.
Posted 05:37 09th November 2009
WayneRoberts says...
Whats disgusting is that between him and the other black players who KNOW they have only been selected for the colour of their skin, not one has had the guts to stand up and condemn quota systems. Maku and Chilli cant even get a start for their unions.
Those are not emerging springboks. Some were. A large portion were taken on the tour to keep politicians happy
Posted 06:14 08th November 2009
alice says...
this is insane................Chilli Boy is the worst of all..........."At this level you can't wait for someone to do that. If you can't do it yourself it's best that you sit at home." his comment! what a joke...! he is the one that should be sitting at home..he doesnt even feature in the Blue Bulls pack.. what a shameful attempt at rugby from the emerging springboks..first off, management should be fired.. second off, the team should be fired except for a handful of players..viz. olivier, deysel, - this is bad, as i cannot recall who else plays in the team... oh yes... dewald potgieter...............thats about it.
Posted 15:18 07th November 2009