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‘It’s a great honour’: Sam Whitelock to match Richie McCaw’s All Blacks record
Two-time Rugby World Cup winner Sam Whitelock will equal Richie McCaw’s All Blacks appearance record on Friday night when the second-rower runs out for his 148th Test.
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Whitelock, 34, has been a regular of the New Zealand second row since debuting in black in 2010. The lock has gone on to win two World Cups, and has captained the national team as well.
Just like McCaw, there will never be another play like Sam Whitelock. The Crusader helped define a generation of success both at Super Rugby and Test level.
But the end is near – the door is about to close on Whitelock’s legendary international career. New Zealand Rugby confirmed in May that 2023 would be Whitelock’s final campaign as an All Black.
Whitelock will leave New Zealand rugby behind and venture on a new challenge after signing a multi-year deal with Top 14 side Pau in France.
But before all of that, it’s important to celebrate the rugby greatness that is Sam Whitelock. The set-piece guru will bring up a record equalling appearance on Friday against Namibia.
“It’s a massive occasion for Sam and for us as a team,” coach Ian Foster told reporters on Wednesday.
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“He’s been sort of a warrior for this team for obviously a long time, and to equal someone like Richie in Test matches for the All Blacks is a massive achievement.
“We all know how much it means to him to pull on a black jersey, and to do it for the 148th time is a very special occasion.
“We just want to make sure we put a performance on that gives that record a lot of respect and then celebrate with him afterwards.
“Just want to pass on to him and his family, it’s a great honour what he’s achieved.”
There is a special kind of aura that follows Sam Whitelock everywhere he goes. It’s not arrogance or ego, but rather a commitment to hard work, his teammates and rugby union.
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All Blacks are looked to as rugby Gods, but even they need heroes to look up to.
“Something that I really admire and obviously look up to is the way that he goes about his mahi (work),” captain Ardie Savea added.
“Everyone knows he’s a hard worker and he works hard but for me, just seeing him being able to grow and adapt – he’s been here since the likes of Richie (McCaw) and (Kearan) Reado.
“Something that I’ve observed with Sammy is the way he’s able to relate to everyone and try and understand other people and other cultures.
“That’s something that I really admire about Sammy. For him to be able to do this milestone, I know for him he’ll reflect on it after the game but it’s a huge honour for him and his family.”
Whitelock will start in the No. 5 jersey alongside long-time second-row partner Brodie Retallick. The All Blacks face Namibia in Toulouse at the Rugby World Cup.
Comments on RugbyPass
Great comeback to the playing field by Richie Mo’unga after the loss of his father. A great performance by Richie . I know him well and he is a great guy. On and off the field one of the greatest for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson would have loved him in his All Black’s side. A very missed player and person.
1 Go to commentsYeah nah he comes across as a funny bloke, but that stopped abruptly after the Nutcracker Prince debacle✋
1 Go to commentsAt this point I can’t watch him without thinking he’s a dirty slimebag. He should have been banned for the same amount of time that Quinn was out. It took Tupaea near on a fricking year to get fit enough to play again and his leg will never be the same. The other crap thing is that he was at ABs level and now he has to claw his way back there when he could have had several games under his belt.
4 Go to commentsThe Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
4 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
4 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
13 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
13 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
13 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
4 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
4 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
4 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
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