‘Immortal’ Sam Whitelock sets the All Blacks’ standards،
PARIS, France — At the end of a titanic struggle, one of the greatest knockout matches in Rugby World Cup history, a record-breaking figure etched the final chapter of his legacy by placing himself at the center of the victorious feat which definitively changed the appearance of this tournament. Not by chance either.
The All Blacks welcomed many heroes to the Stade de France during their epic quarter-final victory over Ireland last weekend.
Jordie Barrett’s defensive play to keep Rónan Kelleher off the line in the 71st minute proved decisive. Sam Cane produced the best performance of his Test career to silence the long line of doubters who have consistently trashed the All Blacks captain. Tyrel Lomax has recovered from a knee injury to lead the All Blacks’ scrum success. Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo’unga sparked the clinically astute attack. And in a dominant breakdown performance, Ardie Savea complemented Cane’s combative and decisive defensive presence.
While these central figures galvanized the finest performance of Ian Foster’s turbulent tenure, Sam Whitelock appeared at the death to score the final penalty that killed Ireland’s hopes.
Ireland, in their last desperate attempt to reach their first World Cup semi-final, forced the All Blacks to defend 37 agonizing phases.
As the All Blacks protected their four-point lead, the clock sounded after four minutes of added time and Ireland edged ever closer to the line, the 78,000 spectators held their collective breath.
It was then a matter of the hour having come, of the old and wise veteran.
Whitelock has seen everything Test rugby has to offer. That’s why there was no chance or chance that he would be in the right place at the right time to embody the defensive resilience and patience of the All Blacks by choosing his moment to win the ball and use his long limbs to get the final penalty.
It was a fitting act, one of many iconic moments in a glittering career that moves ever closer to the ultimate distinction: becoming the first man to win three Webb Ellis Cup crowns.
As one of eight All Blacks set to end their Test careers after this tournament, Whitelock is relishing a farewell tour of sorts to France. Not that he ever liked anything about her.
This World Cup, however, reinforces Whitelock’s status – as if there were any doubt – in the pantheon of all-time great All Blacks. With 151 tests, he now stands as the most capped All Black after surpassing Richie McCaw’s record of 148 tests. On the world stage, he also ranks among the greatest locks of all time.
“Every game Sam is achieving something new at the moment,” All Blacks coach Ian Foster said earlier in the tournament. He equaled a record last week; he’s going to break it, then he’ll be 150 and then the most capped All Black in the World Cup. Every day is in some way a declaration of something he’s achieving.”
While breaking a string of records, Whitelock has been forced this year to adjust his tenure to often adopt a bench role behind Scott Barrett and Brodie Retallick.
Retallick and Whitelock hold the record for most Tests as a second-row duo, having overtaken Springbok duo Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield, but the All Blacks have largely preferred to inject Whitelock’s experience off the bench this season.
Despite this change, the 35-year-old’s influence has not diminished. Behind the scenes, he continues to call into question and ruthlessly enforce internal norms.
“He’s such a calming influence,” All Blacks forwards coach Jason Ryan said. “He can get the room in order and tension when he needs to. With that quarterfinal that put him at the end and some of his messages that he was working with, Skip and some of the other leaders, Ardie and Richie, it’s priceless.
“He’s just honest. He doesn’t avoid things. Sometimes his timing isn’t so good. He and I have had some really good conversations but he makes me a better coach. He makes sure I’m present and I challenge him to be better even though he has played 151 odd Tests.
When he retires from Test Rugby in two weeks, Whitelock will be remembered as one of the greatest lineout exponents in international history. Dan Carter’s drop goal is often credited as the play that secured the All Blacks’ tense 2015 World Cup semi-final victory over the Springboks. Yet Whitelock’s late flight was just as valuable.
Whitelock’s legacy extends far beyond the black jersey. He produced successive man-of-the-match performances in the last two Super Rugby finals to propel the Crusaders to silverware. New All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has branded Whitelock immortal after he defied medical advice following three weeks out with an Achilles injury to play 80 minutes in the Crusaders’ triumph over the Chiefs in of this year’s final.
But it is the All Blacks who are waiting for Whitelock’s recall. He is expected to return to the starting team – alongside Barrett and Retallick moving to the bench – for the All Blacks’ semi-final against Argentina in Paris.
With the All Blacks widely expected to overtake the Pumas and reach their first World Cup final in eight years, fellow veteran Dane Coles has spoken of painful memories of their last semi-final defeat which should ensure that no costly complacency creeps in.
“I don’t want to play a third and fourth game again like we did in 2019,” Coles said. “That’s my motivation. It’s a bloody week if I’m brutally honest after getting knocked out in the semi-final. It doesn’t matter who you play against, you’re playing in the semi-final of a World Cup and if you do it, If you don’t show up you will have a week that will test you mentally, physically and emotionally. I want to try to have another Monday. It’s not about who the opposition is “It’s about achieving that ultimate goal of playing in a World Cup final. All our energy is going into our semi-final.
The All Blacks have humiliated the Pumas in their last two meetings, but their first defeat against Argentina in Sydney three years ago – and the first defeat at home to Michael Cheika’s Pumas last year – still serves as a reminder time nothing is guaranteed.
“I was in the team when we lost to them in Australia and to them in New Zealand,” Coles recalls. “It hurt the team a lot, so I still have that fear. That fear motivates you. It’s good to have it, recognize it and let it energize you to get you where you need to be.”
Expect Whitelock to play a major role in ensuring the All Blacks also regain the required mental edge.
