Whitelock on a mission

Highlanders skipper out to prove point

Malakai Fekitoa won’t be the only Highlander with a point to prove against the British and Irish Lions in Dunedin tonight.

Like Fekitoa, No 8 Luke Whitelock, who will captain the Highlanders a few days after brother Sam led the Crusaders against the Lions, also missed out on the All Blacks squad for the three-test series.

It’s been four years since Whitelock earned his one and only cap for the All Blacks but, on the back of an outstanding season so far for the Highlanders, there were suggestions he could be in line to make a return.

Last month, Highlanders coach Tony Brown called Whitelock’s form this season as good as that of any loose forward in the country.

Brown suggested Whitelock was putting pressure on the national selectors, but he didn’t make the 33-man squad and was overlooked as injury cover in favour of Akira Ioane.

‘‘Yeah, 100 per cent,’’ Whitelock said when asked if he was disappointed to again miss out.

He said there had been ‘‘nothing too major’’ in terms of dialogue between him and the selectors this season, but would go into tonight’s match against the Lions at Forsyth Barr Stadium with a big performance in mind.

‘‘I’ll just try and put my best foot forward for that and the only way I can do that is to try to perform for the Highlanders, and Tuesday is another chance for that,’’ Whitelock said.

‘‘I’ve just to go out there and perform at a high standard.’’

He’s also been supporting a ‘‘hugely disappointed’’ Fekitoa, but said talking about it too much wouldn’t help and the best way forward was to get back out on the paddock.

Whitelock hasn’t yet had a chat to older brother Sam about his experience during the Crusaders’ 12-3 loss to the Lions in Christchurch on Saturday night, but said they would probably touch base before tonight.

It doesn’t take rocket science to realise matching the Lions’ bulky pack is essential if the Highlanders are to avoid ending up on the back foot.

Led by No 8 CJ Stander and former Highlander James Haskell, the Lions will fancy their chances against the depleted Dunedinbased Super Rugby franchise.

But don’t expect the Highlanders to go into a shell for the historic match.

Sure, they’re missing nine players, including All Blacks Aaron and Ben Smith, but they’ve got plenty of firepower in the form of All Blacks Lima Sopoaga, Waisake Naholo and the everreliable Richard Buckman.

‘‘You don’t want to die wondering and think ‘what if?’,’’whitelock said.

‘‘You’ve just got to go out there and express yourself and get stuck into it, really.’’

Lions wing Tommy Seymour, who is tasked with marking the electric Naholo, is expecting the favourable conditions under the roof to produce a better spectacle than in Christchurch.

That will come as music to the ears of Lions fans, who have only had two tries in three games to celebrate.

‘‘I don’t think it’s nerves or a frantic nature, I think it’s just been a bit unfortunate for whatever reason - balls haven’t stuck,’’ he said

‘‘We know things we’re going to correct. I have no doubt this group of players will find it’s rhythm and once we do, we’ll be happy days.’’

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