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Sam Whitelock approached about possible return to All Blacks – report
By Finn Morton
Two-time Rugby World Cup winner Sam Whitelock could make a stunning return to international rugby with All Blacks coach Scott Robertson reportedly approaching the 153-Test veteran about a return to New Zealand’s shores.
Whitelock, who is currently playing with French club Pau in the Top 14, was thought to have retired from the international game after last year’s Rugby World Cup which saw New Zealand finish second behind South Africa.
During that campaign in France, Whitelock became the first All Black to reach and then pass the 150-Test marker, and also became a national hero once again with a famous turnover at the death during the thrilling quarter-final win over Ireland
While the 35-year-old had seemingly sailed into the sunset after joining younger brother Luke at Pau, it’s understood the legendary All Black could complete a stunning comeback to the top level.
According to New Zealand Herald scribe Gregor Paul, Whitelock is “considering returning to New Zealand” after a discussion with new All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson.
Robertson won seven Super Rugby titles with Whitelock during a historic run with the Crusaders, and the coach appears intent on working with the set-piece guru once again.
Paul understands that Whitelock could be in line for “at least one more” year of international rugby, and potentially another, with the second-rower a chance to play valuable minutes.
With multiple genuine greats of All Blacks rugby leaving New Zealand after last year’s World Cup, including lock Brodie Retallick, there’s no question that Whitelock’s return would be significantly positive for a young crop of players coming through.
Chiefs duo Josh Lord and Tupou Vaa’i have played less than 30 Tests between them, and the Crusaders’ Quinten Strange is yet to enter the fray of international rugby with the All Blacks.
Scott Barrett, who has played just short of 70 Tests in the black jersey, is expected to suit up for New Zealand later this year, but Whitelock’s involvement in the squad would still come as a major boost.
But for now, Whitelock is still committed to Pau who currently sit mid-table with 10 wins and eight losses so far this season.
“I’m looking forward to discovering rugby in France and facing this challenge,” Whitelock said in a Pau statement after signing for the club last year.
“It’s great to be able to play with my brother in the same team and not against each other. My family and I are looking forward to discovering French culture and learning the language.”
It’s understood that Whitelock will have an option at the end of the Top 14 season to either re-sign with Pau or potentially return to New Zealand if a Super Rugby side decides to sign him.
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Warren, if you think you should stay on coaching Wales, you are beyond deluded. If you love Wales & Welsh rugby as much as you say you do (& I'm sure you probably do) you should resign immediately so this once proud & passionate rugby nation can rebuild without you. How many of your players will make the British & Irish Lions squad.?
It's time to walk the plank.!
Go to commentsYeah nar I pretty much agree with that sentiment, wasn't just about the lineout though.
Yeah, I think it's the future of SR, even TRC. Graham above just now posting about how good a night it was with a dbl header of ENGvSA and NZvFrance, and now I don't want to kick SA or Argentina out of TRC but it would be great if in this next of the woods 2 more top teams could come in to create more of these sort of nights (for rugby's appeal). Often Arg and SA and both travel here and you get those games but more often doesn't work out right.
Obviously a long way off but USA and Japan are the obvious two. First thing we need to do is get Eddie Jones kicked out of Japan so they can start improving again and then get a couple of US teams in SRP (even if one its just a US based and augmented Jaguares).
It will start off the whole conferences are crap debate again (which I will continue to argue vehemently against), but imagine a 6 team Pacific conference, Tokyo Sunwolves (drafted from Tokyo JRLO teams), Tokyo All Stars (made up of best remaining foreign players and overseas drafts), ALL Nihon (best of local non Tokyo based talent, inc China/Korea etc, with mainland Japan), a could of West Coast american franchises and perhaps a second self PI driven Hawai'i based team, or Jagaures. So I see a short NFL like 3 or 4 month comp as fitting best, maybe not even a full round, NZvAUSvPAC, all games taking place within a 6hr window. Model for NZ will definitely still require a competitive and funded NPC!
On the Crusaders, I liked last years ending with Grace on the bench (ovbiously form dependent but thats how it ended) and Lio-Willie at 8. I could have Blackadder trying to be a 7 but think balance will be used with him at 6 and Kellow as 7. Scott Barrett is an international 6 sized player. It is just NZ style/model that pushes him into the tight, I reckon he'd be a great loose player, and saders have Strange and Cahill as bigger players (plus that change could draw someone like Darry back). Same with Haig now, hes not grown yet but Barrett hight and been playing 6, now that the Highlanders have only chosen two locks he'll be playing lock, and that is going to change his growth trajectory massively, rather than seeing him grow like an International 6.
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