Clayton McMillan: What 'the question really is' amid Whitelock rumours
Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan has shared some thoughts on the potential return to New Zealand shores of All Blacks legend Sam Whitelock.
Reports from the New Zealand Herald last week suggested that Whitelock was reconsidering his options for the coming international season following conversations with new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson.
Whitelock is currently playing with his brother at Pau in France but enjoys a strong relationship with Robertson from the pair's time together at the Crusaders.
The Top 14 season will wrap up at the end of June, but with Pau sitting 12th it's likely Whitelock would be available earlier than that and could become eligible for All Blacks duties by returning to local competition before the All Blacks season kicks off against England on July 6.
McMillan is well aware of Whitelock's influence in the game, having lost to him and the Crusaders in the Super Rugby Pacific final last year.
"I think the first thing is, what an incredible player Whitelock is and he's left a massive legacy here in New Zealand and for the Crusaders," he told The Breakdown.
"When you look at the young locks around the country we've certainly got some outstanding young talent coming through and I guess the question really is do we chuck them in the hot seat and they learn by being out in the middle, or can that learning be accelerated by having someone of his standing walking alongside them?
"I think there's a real balancing act there. It'll be fascinating to see how that all unfolds."
The Chiefs boast perhaps the best group of young locks in the country with All Blacks Tupou Vaa'i and Josh Lord starting in the team's recent win over the Highlanders and Naitoa Ah Kuoi coming off the bench.
Player development is expected to be a key element of Robertson's early tenure with the All Blacks, especially at lock where Whitelock and Brodie Retallick were thought to have retired after a historic partnership in the second row.
Exactly what role Whitelock would play in the team is unclear, but former All Black Sir John Kirwan was all for a return of the All Blacks' all-time most capped player.
"I'm in favour, I think it's a positive. I'm in favour of both Beauden (Barrett) and Whitelock coming back.
"Will they start? I don't think so but do they come off the bench? Do they get through to the next World Cup? I hope so. We saw it with (Dane) Coles coming on late at the World Cup. Who do you want in that situation? Someone with experience?
"I think what we've got to realise is that a lot of our players are leaving. We've got 660 players overseas. To lose that experience for the All Blacks... we've got to win in between World Cups as well as the next one. So, I am in favour."
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All of these media pundits always miss the obvious whenever they analyse what is ailing or assisting the game. Rugby always has contentious points for debate when picking apart individual games and finding fault with itself. All this focus and scrutiny on “speeding up the game”, “high ball in play” etc is all contextual to the fan. As a tv viewer, if you’re absorbed into a game, regardless if your team is playing or not, more ball in play time and action are all byproducts of the contest. A good contest subliminally affects your memory in selectively remembering all the good aspects. A poor contest and your brain has switched off because its a blowout and the result is never in doubt or it’s a real chore to watch and remain engaged throughout. The URC, Top 14 and English premiership are all competitions that feel like there’s real jeopardy each week. The dominance of Super rugby by NZ teams was unhealthy from a sustainable interest perspective. You can’t fault those teams or the players, but the lack of competitions won by SA and Australian teams long term was always going to test the faith and patience of die-hard and casual fans from those regions. SANZAR took their eye off the fans and fans voted with their feet and subscriptions. They were so concerned about expanding their product they forgot the golden rule about broadcasting live sport. Viewers tune in more when there’s an atmosphere and a true contest. You need to fill stadiums to create one, host unions need to do more to service ticket buyers, and this year proves the other, there’s more interest in Super rugby this year only because more games are competitive with less foregone conclusions. All these micro statistics bandied about, only interest the bean counters and trainspotters.
Go to commentsIt’s a good, timely wake up call for NZ Rugby (seem to be a few of them lately!) - sort out the bureaucratic nonsense at board level. We can’t expect to stay the number one option without keeping fans/players engaged. We’ve obviously been bleeding players to league for years but can’t let the floodgates open (although I think this headline is hyperbolic as it’s a result of a recent Warriors pathways system where they are tracking things more closely) Understand the need to focus boys on rugby if they’re at a proud rugby school too, don’t think it’s harsh at all re Barakat in Hamilton. Reward the committed players with squad positions. An elite 1st XV system in NZ has done more for league than they even realise, think it’s good to protect our game further.
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