The 'deep thinker' that TJ Perenara 'hated playing against' - Hansen hails centurion Whitelock
Sam Whitelock’s switch to a more instinctive style of play has seen him become one of the world’s best locks, according to New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen.
Whitelock is set to win his 100th cap when the All Blacks face Australia in their Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship opener in Sydney on Saturday.
The 29-year-old will become just the eighth Kiwi to reach the landmark, and the first man in his position to do so.
Having captained the team previously in the absence of Kieran Read, Whitelock has developed into a senior figure among the all-conquering All Blacks side, which won six out of six in last year’s competition for a dominant defence of the title.
Just 2? more sleeps…#BledisloeCup #AUSvNZL pic.twitter.com/U5JbIl3xyi
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) August 16, 2018
“When he first came in, he was a deep thinker,” Hansen said of Whitelock in a media conference. “Everything had to be perfect and there wasn’t a lot of flexibility in that thinking, so that probably inhibited him a little bit.
“He now trusts his own instincts and doesn’t have to see it, think about then do it, he just does it instinctively and that’s improved him immensely I think. He’s always been a quality athlete.
“I think sometimes we forget that because the other guy is so good in Brodie [Retallick], and Sam, I think, in his own right is one of the world’s best locks. He can carry, he can defend, he’s good in the set-piece both in scrum and line-out.
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“I remember when he played about 20 Test matches we sat down and he gave me the goal that he wanted to play 100 Test matches and he’s achieved that. To do that, you’ve got to be playing well consistently to get 20.
“To be able to get 100 just tells you how quality of a player he is. So we’re very proud of him and he’s a big leader in our team now.
“He’s obviously led the All Blacks in the last four Test matches while Reado was out and did a fantastic job of that. He’s a great lieutenant to Reado as well now. He’s only 29 so he should get a few more too. It should be quite exciting.”
"Him leading by example rather than voice is the way he goes about things"
All Blacks teammates pay tribute to Sam Whitelock ahead of his 100th Test this weekend.
?? https://t.co/yoxD1UPM50 pic.twitter.com/w0DNTXAaFa
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) August 16, 2018
International team-mate TJ Perenara said recently that he “hated” playing against Whitelock at club level – a comment the man himself takes as a huge positive.
“I think that’s the biggest compliment you can get,” Whitelock said. “Our job as tight-forwards is to annoy [number] nines, 10s and 12s in and around that breakdown and ruck so it’s good to know that I was getting to him when I’ve played against him.
“They [Australia] are the neighbours. They’re across the ditch and it’s the Bledisloe Cup. It’s very very special for us at any stage playing for the All Blacks but playing against an Aussie gives us that extra little bit of motivation in there and I think you can feel that this week within the environment that the boys are up for it.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Brayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to comments