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.
Beast mode
Ian Henderson .. maybe .
You wouldn’t see toner or o Connell ever do that!
In fairness, you wouldn’t see many second rows do that…. Ever!
O’Connell taught him to do that.
We don’t make them like that over here! Look at the props even! They can scrummage and gallop with the ball
You’re not familiar with Cian Healy by any chance are you?
When he breaks through the first tackle, he takes just a little hop to power him off and there was no stopping him…
Even the commentater said “what the????” Haha :-D
O-o
Pretty impressive for a second row! Typically for the super15, however, the defence was terrible.
But the flip side is that decent tries are scored. That’s more typical for Super Rugby over what goes on up here.
Super 15 is the Spanish football of rugby