The One and Only Sam White-lock
The late Doc Danie Craven, rugby player, coach, administrator of South Africa, once famously said that if you gave him two good locks, he would build the team around them.
This is so because the locks are the heart of the scrum, control the lineouts, kick-offs, get the driving mauls going and being on the playing field enforce a physical presence which helps the team.
The lock forwards are the mainstay of the team, so to speak.
Kobus Wiese, Hannes Strydom stood tall for the Springboks at the 1995 Rugby World Cup, John Eales, Matt Cockbain, David Giffin for the Wallabies at the 1999 RWC, Martin Johnson and
Ben Kay for England in 2003, Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield for South Africa in 2007 and Brad Thorn and Kieran Read for the All Blacks in 2011.
Taking nothing away from any other position, if you struggle in the lock department, you will have problems.
This is why All Blacks are so dominant in world of rugby because they have rich pedigree of lock forwards over the years.
But current lock forward and captain Sam Whitelock rules the roost being the most capped All Blacks lock of all time and became the eighth Test centurion in 2018.
Lone survivor
Interestingly, 123-cap veteran is the only survivor from the Flying Fijians last test match against the All Blacks at Carisbrook in 2011 convincingly won by the Richie McCaw-captained side 60-14.
Having replaced Jarred Hoeata in the 54th minute, he made his Test debut in 2010 and played in all seven All Blacks matches at RWC 2011 and again at RWC 2015.
Whitelock epitomises the modern lock; agile, mobile, athletic and a formidable force with the ball in hand.
With regular captain Sam Cane injured, Whitelock was named as captain of the All Blacks for the 2021 Steinlager Series which started with a 102 -0 walloping of Tonga last week
Lone survivor Nakarawa
In the past two Rugby World Cups, the Flying Fijians produced good crop of locks in Leone Nakarawa, Api Ratuniyarawa and Tevita Cavubati.
Unfortunately, only Nakarawa is with the team in Christchurch and is likely to partner Temo Mayanavanua, Tevita Ratuva, Albert Tuisue or Mesulame Kunavula.
These are the new generation of locks as we look forward to the 2023 RWC in France. And there is no better person to offer tips on the trick if the trade than Nakarawa who made his debut i at the 2011RWC in New Zealand.
One of the positives of playing top sides like the All Blacks is it gives the Flying Fijians a chance to test our strength, gauge where we are and build depth in every position.
That is the positive spin we can take out even before the All Blacks on Saturday.
More on Whitelock
*As a younger player, he locked for New Zealand Schools in 2005 and 2006, NZ U19 in 2007 and was part of the 2008 NZ U20 side that claimed the inaugural Junior World Championship.
*His grandfather Nelson Dalzell, great-uncle Allan Elsom and brothers George and Luke have also played for the All Blacks while brother Adam played for the All Blacks Sevens and father Braeden played for Manawatu.