Scott Robertson approaches All Blacks legend to return to New Zealand – report
All Blacks second-row Sam Whitelock.
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has reportedly reached out to legendary second-row Sam Whitelock to return to New Zealand and resume his international career.
According to a New Zealand Herald report, Robertson has approached Whitelock, who turns 36 in October, about returning to New Zealand to further his career as the coach believes he still has a role to play in the Test arena.
Illustrious Test career
Whitelock is the most capped player in All Blacks history and made his 153rd Test appearance in last year’s Rugby World Cup final against South Africa as the Springboks held on for a narrow 12-11 victory over their arch-rivals at the Stade de France in Paris.
After the World Cup, Whitelock joined Top 14 outfit Pau, signing a one-year contract, but he has an option of extending his stay for a second year should he want it.
Robertson and his coaching staff believe that having Whitelock in their ranks would boost the All Blacks’ forward stocks, which took a knock when the 35-year-old and other experienced Test campaigners like Brodie Retallick, Dane Coles and Nepo Laulala all moved to overseas-based clubs and effectively retired from international rugby.
Whitleock’s presence would be of great help in a mentorship capacity to up-and-coming Test locks like Josh Lord and Tupou Vaa’i in the All Blacks squad.
If Whitelock agrees to return to his homeland, Robertson will be keen to have him involved in the All Blacks set-up ahead of their two-Test series against England in July.
However, he would need New Zealand Rugby to grant him an exemption to play for the All Blacks as he is currently without a contract from the governing body at Super Rugby Pacific and NPC level.
News of Whitelock’s possible return to New Zealand has been welcomed by his former club, the Crusaders, where he would be expected to resume his Super Rugby career if he should come back.
Crusaders in the dark
Although the Christchurch-based said they would welcome Whitelock back with open arms, their chief executive, Colin Mansbridge, said they are in the dark about news of his return to New Zealand.
“Sam left an enduring legacy here at the Crusaders, and we can see that in the quality of locks we have, now under the tutelage of Scott Barrett,” Mansbridge told the New Zealand Herald.
“Once a Crusader, always a Crusader, but as far as we know he’s on a two-year deal with Section Pau.”
Before his move to Pau, Whitelock spent his entire Super Rugby career at the Crusaders where he made 180 appearances, winning seven championships with them and leading the side to Super Rugby titles in 2017, 2018 and 2019 before relinquishing the captaincy to allow Scott Barrett and Codie Taylor to take up the role.
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