Page 47 - All Blacks v Lions - First Test

HAVING TWO RUGBY
World Cup winners’ medals, shares in ve Rugby Championships in seven years and Steinlager Series
wins at home against all opposition, there’s only the British & Irish Lions missing from Samuel Whitelock’s international rugby CV.
The rst part of that missing prize is up for grabs tonight in the rst Test of the DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017, and the 84-Test locking veteran is more than ready. He already had a taste of what to expect – albeit without his
All Blacks pack around him – when leading the Crusaders against the Lions a fortnight ago in Christchurch.
In the recent Samoa Test, Whitelock appreciated the chance to reunite with his long-time partner Brodie Retallick, who has played 60 Tests since making his debut in 2012. “The Samoa game was very useful,” Whitelock says. “It was good to be tested under live re. I thought Brodie and I grew as the game
went on. And when Scott [Barrett] came out, I thought he played really well too. Building on that form and having Luke [Romano] there as well is going to be critical to putting a good performance in now, and in the future.”
Whitelock’s relationship with Retallick extends beyond the eld. “When Brodie
“When Brodie and I rst started playing together we kind of clicked early on.”
and I rst started playing together we kind of clicked early on and I think it has gone from strength to strength since then,” Whitelock says. “We’re in a lucky situation in that we’ve played a lot together so we know each other’s game very well.
“We’ve spent so much time being away from home that we’ve become good friends and we do know each other pretty well. Because you’ve been through so much together, it’s one of those things – the more you spend time with people, the better you get along and the friendship grows.
“We de nitely have a good catch-up if we play against each other and there’s the odd text that goes back and forth, and I think that’s just the way the
All Blacks’ environment has been for
the last few years, and still is. Everyone gets on very well on the eld and also off the eld.”
That is important, because the 12-yearly challenge the Lions present is special, and the Lions have a signi cant place in New Zealand’s rich rugby history. Whitelock remembers the impression the 2005 Lions made on him when he was taken to their game with his home province, Manawatu – a game that saw the Lions put 100 points on his side. “It was my rst understanding of
PROFILE
STANDING TALL
His rst outing against the Lions might not have gone to plan, but lock Samuel Whitelock has every intention of adding a Test series win to his impressive list of accolades. WORDS: LYNN MCCONNELL
DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017 // 47