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.