All Blacks won't be distracted by 'personal records' as Whitelock chases history
Sam Whitlock is just three games away from equalling Richie McCaw’s record as the most-capped All Black of all time, a tally that barring injury, the lock is almost certain to achieve at the World Cup.
The New Zealand team departed for Europe on Friday with two injury concerns and three players as injury cover. Those concerns are Brodie Retallick’s knee and Shannon Frizell’s hamstring.
Both injuries are likely to contribute to Whitelock’s playing time in the two tests those players are expected to miss.
But the prospect of celebrating that feat is far from the mind of head coach Ian Foster, who said the time will come to acknowledge his veteran lock’s accomplishments but there is much to be done in the meantime.
“It would be great but it’s something we’ll talk about closer to the time,” Foster said. “We’re in a week-at-a-time mode.
“Personal records, we’ll address closer to the time. But he’s a pretty special man.”
2023’s international season has been far from the usual schedule for Whitelock, who’s returning from an Achilles injury suffered in Super Rugby Pacific while battling it out for his starting position with fellow Crusader Scott Barrett.
The two-time World Cup winner’s resilience in the face of injury and competition has been well-received by his coach.
“He’s always been a special part of this team,” Foster added. “We’ve given him a different role this year.
“He came off the bench one test [and] did that well… He’s willing to respond to the challenge of the form of some of the other locks, so it’s a pretty competitive situation.”
With the All Blacks‘ next two fixtures coming against South Africa and France, The team will be looking to continue the improved run of results they’ve enjoyed over the past 12 months.
This time just one year ago they were reeling after a first-ever home series loss to Ireland, a loss which painted a bleak picture of the team’s future.
“We didn’t evolve our game from week one to week three,” Whitelock said of the losses in NZR+’s new docuseries In Their Own Words. “They had us worked out.”
But the team turned a corner after the loss and are now considered by some bookmakers the favourites for the Rugby World Cup.
The last warm-up match before they launch that World Cup campaign is against the Springboks at Twickenham, an opponent Whitelock is all too familiar with.
The venue offers a different experience for the teams who have rarely met on neutral turf outside of a World Cup.
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments