'Hopefully he doesn't play that football style': Whitelock wary of former teammate

Sam Whitelock has suggested that it’s going to be “a little bit weird” running out against former teammate Pablo Matera in Christchurch this weekend when the All Blacks take on Los Pumas.

Matera joined the Crusaders ahead of the Super Rugby Pacific season and regularly found himself on the same teamsheet as Whitelock, with the pair causing havoc for opposition at lineout time and in the breakdown.

Matera, who previously captained the Jaguares during their five-year Super Rugby stint, made 14 appearances for the Crusaders throughout this year’s competition and quickly became a fan favourite thanks to his visible passion and his sometimes left-field decision-making, with the Argentinian flanker putting boot to ball on more than one occasion.

While Whitelock and Matera have squared off many times in the past, Saturday’s Rugby Championship fixture at Orangetheory Stadium – the home of the Crusaders – will mark the first time the two have opposed one another since playing together with the Crusaders during this year’s successful title-winning campaign.

“It’s going to be a little bit weird,”admitted Whitelock when queried what it would be like to take on Matera’s Pumas this weekend.

“I played against Pablo a couple of times before he made his way down here but he’s not going to hold back at all. That’s great and that’s how it’s got to be. We play against each other as All Blacks throughout the whole Super Rugby time of the year and it’s no different.

“We’re going to go out there and try put out best foot forward and he’ll do the same. He’ll do it obviously with his own flare so just hopefully he doesn’t play that football style, putting in kicks and that as we know he can do.”

Whitelock also acknowledged that he’s anticipating reconnecting with the Pumas flanker after the match.

“Really looking forward to catching up after the game too,” he said. “[Matera is a] great player, great person and a good friend.”

There’s also a chance that Whitelock will play against another teammate when the All Blacks take on the Wallabies this year, with former NZ halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow confirming this week that he’d be willing to pull on the gold jersey if shoulder-tapped by Australia coach Dave Rennie following changes to World Rugby’s eligibility laws.

Kerr-Barlow last featured for the All Blacks in 2017 and, having been absent from the side for more than three years, can now switch allegiances to Australia – his country of birth. While Rennie has said that Kerr-Barlow does not feature in his immediate plans, injuries could see the former All Black called up.

“My initial thought was just let him play,” said Whitelock of a potential Test team swap for Kerr-Barlow. “It’s just going to add motivation for us to play against him

“He’s a great player and he’s done some amazing things for us but it’s no different to any other player playing one or two games and then changing after a couple of years of not being available for that team.”