Sam Whitelock: How I heard I wouldn't captain the All Blacks
Sam Whitelock admits he “would have loved the opportunity” to captain the All Blacks, revealing he was told of Sam Cane’s appointment shortly before the news became public this month.
Head coach Ian Foster’s decision to overlook Whitelock surprised many. The 115-test lock was deemed the obvious choice to succeed Kieran Read after the All Blacks’ failed Rugby World Cup campaign last year.
“I would have loved to have the opportunity but at the same time, I know so much goes into it and you don’t need the captaincy armband to help people and make a difference,” Whitelock said.
“Sam’s going to need all the help and support he can get from everyone that’s in the All Blacks environment and I’m keen to help him out where I can.
“There’s definitely some upsides to me worrying about myself playing well first and then obviously helping him where I can if he needs it.”
Whitelock said he appreciated Foster contacting him about the decision a few days before the announcement.
“I was very thankful to get the heads up just before it was released and it allowed me to work out how I can help Sam, help Fozzy [Foster] out and work out what’s the best step for me going forward and where I can have the greatest influence and impact.”
Whitelock, 31, returned from Japan to spend lockdown in New Zealand after his plans to play overseas were derailed by the Covid-19 pandemic. He is now back with the Crusaders for Super Rugby Aotearoa, starting next month.
Despite a whirlwind few months, settling back into the team has been surprisingly easy, Whitelock said.
“It’s been pretty funny walking back into training. My first day back was Wednesday and Razor [Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson] said to me, ‘does it feel like you’ve been away six months?’, and I said, ‘it feels like I’ve been away for a month’,” Whitelock said.
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“Even though there’s been so much going on – obviously playing in Japan, coming back to New Zealand for lockdown and spending that in the Hawke’s Bay, and then getting back here on Monday.
“So it seems like we’ve packed a lot into the past six months but it’s been pretty enjoyable. I’m just excited like everyone else; we want to get out there and play now. We’ve just got to do the right things and hopefully we’ll get that opportunity pretty soon.”
Whitelock will also have the opportunity to step away from his captaincy role with the Crusaders when Scott Barrett takes over the armband – something he admits may take some time to adjust to.
“It’s going to be interesting. I know my personality. I want to help out the team wherever I can. [Barrett]’s been awesome the past three days I’ve been at training. He’s leading really well and he’s got some great guys around him.
“So for me it’s slotting back in and watching, listening and see what’s happening. Then commenting or getting up alongside Scooter [Barrett] and saying ‘have you thought about this’ or ‘have you tried something else’.
“I’ve just got to make sure I don’t speak too much and help out where I can. So I’m looking forward to that challenge. It’s going to be completely different to what I’ve had over the past three years.
“It’s a change but it’s similar to what Kieran did for me. So hopefully I can help out Scooter when he needs, but he’s been outstanding at the start of the season and he’s been really good on the three days I’ve been back. So I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Bell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
13 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
13 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to comments