'They said 'Sam Whitelock was huge tonight' and I agree with them'
All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock has gone from strength to strength since taking over as the full-time captain in the absence of the injured Sam Cane and Saturday’s performance against the Wallabies was no exception.
The big second-rower appeared to be entering the final stages of his test career at the 2019 World Cup where he looked tired and worn-down, especially so in the semi-final loss to England where the abrasive pairing of Maro Itoje and Courtney Lawes outplayed their more experienced opposites.
The long COVID-enforced break in 2020, coupled with Whitelock’s sabbatical to Japan, appear to have rejuvenated the 32-year-old, however, and the 126-test All Black is now entering career-best form.
Whitelock was again supreme in New Zealand’s record 57-22 win over the Wallabies on Saturday night, dominating the aerial battle at the lineouts and hitting breakdown after breakdown to ensure the All Blacks played with high-quality front-foot ball throughout the match.
He finished the match with eight carries to his name, the second-highest of any player in the team, just sitting one behind Akira Ioane and David Havili, and was also industrious on defence, clocking up 10 tackles.
All in all, it was an excellent all-around performance from the stand-in captain – and it didn’t go unnoticed by All Blacks forwards coach John Plumtree.
“I’ve had a couple of texts from mates that I respect in the game and they said ‘Sam Whitelock was huge tonight’ and I agree with them,” Plumtree said following the match. “He’s led this team beautifully from the start of the year and he put in a real captain’s performance.
“The Aussies came at us up front probably harder this week than they did last week and I think we stayed really composed and he leads that from the front. Outstanding.”
Plumtree was also pleased with how Whitelock was able to ensure his men stayed in control of the match and cool-headed from start to finish, despite a few mini scuffles threatening to rear up throughout the game.
“We addressed that [off-the-ball stuff from the previous game] on Sunday,” said Plumtree. “When we scene-setted our week, we knew some of that was coming because [the Wallabies] were under pressure and went about our work around how we were going to handle all of that.
“And again, that goes down to Sam, the leaders, just talking about it on the park and just making sure that we do stay composed and we focus on what we need to do.”
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Head coach Ian Foster was similarly impressed with his team’s discipline, especially after the relatively poor display last week which saw the All Blacks cede 18 penalties to their opposition.
“We made good strides,” he said following the win. “A lot’s been said about the discipline but I think we got stuck in a few periods of play last week at the start and at the end where our penalty count mounted up for other reasons and I think this week we climbed out of that, we stuck to what we’ve been working on and that takes great discipline. We were still put under pressure but we responded differently, which is pleasing.”
The All Blacks finished the game with nine penalties conceded to the Wallabies’ 11, with Ardie Savea eventually copping a yellow card for ongoing indiscretions in a short space of time from the home team.
That didn’t hinder the All Blacks’ charge to victory, however, who ultimately recorded a record points tally in the win.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments