WHENEVER WE HEAP praise on the All Blacks (which kind of happens all the time), Sam Whitelock rarely gets a mention. He is so consistently excellent while keeping a quiet public profile that he almost gets lost when we are listing off New Zealand’s biggest stars.
But you don’t get over 60 caps for the world’s best team without being an exceptional player and Whitelock scored the kind of try this morning that we usually see from Julian Savea.
When you watch this video, you only need to remember one thing – Sam Whitlock is a SECOND ROW!
Shrugging off tacklers, swerving past the last defender – if Whitelock starts busting these runs out on a regular basis then even the most carefully orchestrated Joe Schmidt kick-chase won’t slow the AB’s down.
The try came in the Crusaders easy 58-17 win over the Queensland Reds in Christchurch but the game had an increased significance for two men… who just happen to be two of the greatest All Blacks ever.
With Dan Carter moving to Paris and Richie McCaw likely to retire, this was also the duo’s last Super Rugby home game. Both of them won four Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders and while neither has been at their best this season, you wouldn’t bet against them recapturing their strongest form this autumn at the World Cup.
Munster fans will be overjoyed to see the destructive second row pairing for this weekend
Ulster are without one of their most devastating flyers for tomorrow’s big provincial derby
