'Is Sam an impact player?': Pundits deliver verdict on All Blacks locking duo

One of the few crinkles that need ironing out in the All Blacks‘ World Cup selection is how best to manage Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock and Scott Barrett.

All three players are certain selections in the matchday 23 but three does not fit into two which leaves one of those locks on the All Blacks bench.

Retallick and Whitelock are the world’s most experienced locking partnership but the bruising form of Crusaders captain Scott Barrett threatens to break up that legendary partnership, and after two outings in the No 5 jersey to start 2023, Barrett is proving difficult to demote.

Whitelock has returned from injury though which makes the upcoming Bledisloe Test a moment of truth for selectors.

Previously, Barrett’s name has been suggested as an option at blindside flanker for the Rugby World Cup and while the middle Barrett brother has looked promising in his few recent showings in the No 6 jersey, Shannon Frizell has done everything in his power to make that position his own two games into The Rugby Championship.

Moving any of the three locks to the bench feels criminal given their status, but something’s got to give.

“I’m a big fan of Sam Whitelock obviously and probably surprised we didn’t see him out there,” James Parsons said on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod. “But tip of the hat to Brodie (Retallick) and Scott Barrett.

“93% (lineout success) against a Springbok side with that tall pack, and to the throwers of course. Man, you can’t leave Brodie out, his stats, he was 65% in gain-line carries. You need that to win a World Cup so you have to think he’s a lock.

“Barrett’s similar, so between those three and the versatility that Tupou Vaa’i provides, and Josh Lord was pretty effective against Argentina so I can only see set piece getting better because of that competition.”

Keeping things in context, the Springboks didn’t contest at a number of lineouts which obviously helps that percentage figure, but Barrett and Lord steered the All Blacks to a 90% success rate against Los Pumas the week prior.

It’s a difficult call, but Parsons eventually delivered his verdict on the selection, saying the weekend’s performers have earned their place, for now.

“Based on the weekend, you’ve got to go with the two. Currently.

“I think (Whitelock) is such a smart brain, a lot of that success will be down to the work he’s done during the week. He would have contributed a hell of a lot even though he didn’t play.

“Against tiring opposition and having his experience and nous off the bench, I do think it’s doable. I think he’s just got to get out there and put some runs on the board because we were singing his praises only a few weeks ago around the Crusaders game and how you can’t see an (All Blacks) team without him in it.

“But that competition, if he gets a couple of big performances against the Wallabies, then it’s a tough job for Jason Ryan and co.”