Riccitelli more than just a ring-in
Just as well it’s not Ricky Riccitelli’s first rodeo.
Dane Coles, Motu Matu’u, Leni Apisai and now Asafo Aumua have all occupied rungs above Riccitelli on the Hurricanes’ hooking pecking order. And yet, for the third season on the trot, it’s the nuggety Francis Douglas Memorial College old boy who’s ended up playing all the footy.
Never mind that it was only August when the 23-year-old was away in Sydney with the All Blacks. In ideal circumstances, he would only have been the Hurricanes’ third-choice No.2 this season.
But with Coles crocked and Aumua not in the right nick to play Super Rugby - for one reason or another - plenty again rests on Riccitelli’s broad shoulders.
‘‘I just take every week as it is and just want to play really well and to the best of my ability for the jersey and for the Hurricanes,’’ Riccitelli said ahead of the team’s departure for away games against the Bulls and Jaguares.
If he has an ego or a fierce competitive streak, Riccitelli keeps it well hidden. Sure he’s combative on the park - all hookers are - but there’s never any sense that he regards himself as a big shot or has grown weary at some of the questions he’s asked.
Coles’ catalogue of calf, rib, knee and concussion complaints over the last couple of years have been wellchonricled; not least in every story about Riccitelli. He’s answered more questions about Coles - and his fitness and influence and playing ability - than he ever has about himself and Aumua’s arrival on the scene only means another hooker to have to wax lyrical about.
Some guys would get the pip; Riccitelli just gets on with it.
‘‘We’ve got some good competition here. I guess it’s something that can benefit each other and bring the best out of us and make us cherish that jersey even more,’’ said Riccitelli.
‘‘Asafo coming in, it’s really good because you can also help him out as well. It is his first year as a Super Rugby player, so it will be good to work with him and we’ll both be pushing each other to play well.’’
Aumua’s learning process includes not travelling with the team to Pretoria and then Buenos Aires. There’s apparently a rib niggle involved there, along with general shortcomings in conditioning. Coles, meanwhile, is out until at least June, due to the Anterior Cruciate Ligament rupture he suffered on All Blacks duty in November.
Riccitelli’s own exposure to the All Blacks was some time as training cover last year, while Coles was still recuperating from concussion.
Given Riccitelli’s lengthening track record for durability and consistency, he probably hasn’t seen the last of that dressing room.
‘‘It was really cool to be in that environment and see how they tick and function and I learned a lot, even for the short amount of time I was in there.’’