Clayton McMillan: What 'the question really is' amid Whitelock rumours

Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan has shared some thoughts on the potential return to New Zealand shores of All Blacks legend Sam Whitelock.

Reports from the New Zealand Herald last week suggested that Whitelock was reconsidering his options for the coming international season following conversations with new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson.

Whitelock is currently playing with his brother at Pau in France but enjoys a strong relationship with Robertson from the pair’s time together at the Crusaders.

The Top 14 season will wrap up at the end of June, but with Pau sitting 12th it’s likely Whitelock would be available earlier than that and could become eligible for All Blacks duties by returning to local competition before the All Blacks season kicks off against England on July 6.

McMillan is well aware of Whitelock’s influence in the game, having lost to him and the Crusaders in the Super Rugby Pacific final last year.

“I think the first thing is, what an incredible player Whitelock is and he’s left a massive legacy here in New Zealand and for the Crusaders,” he told The Breakdown.

“When you look at the young locks around the country we’ve certainly got some outstanding young talent coming through and I guess the question really is do we chuck them in the hot seat and they learn by being out in the middle, or can that learning be accelerated by having someone of his standing walking alongside them?

“I think there’s a real balancing act there. It’ll be fascinating to see how that all unfolds.”

The Chiefs boast perhaps the best group of young locks in the country with All Blacks Tupou Vaa’i and Josh Lord starting in the team’s recent win over the Highlanders and Naitoa Ah Kuoi coming off the bench.

Player development is expected to be a key element of Robertson’s early tenure with the All Blacks, especially at lock where Whitelock and Brodie Retallick were thought to have retired after a historic partnership in the second row.

Exactly what role Whitelock would play in the team is unclear, but former All Black Sir John Kirwan was all for a return of the All Blacks’ all-time most capped player.

“I’m in favour, I think it’s a positive. I’m in favour of both Beauden (Barrett) and Whitelock coming back.

“Will they start? I don’t think so but do they come off the bench? Do they get through to the next World Cup? I hope so. We saw it with (Dane) Coles coming on late at the World Cup. Who do you want in that situation? Someone with experience?

“I think what we’ve got to realise is that a lot of our players are leaving. We’ve got 660 players overseas. To lose that experience for the All Blacks… we’ve got to win in between World Cups as well as the next one. So, I am in favour.”