Luke Whitelock to captain ABS
Even Steve Hansen’s wife raised a quizzical eyebrow about his selection of Luke Whitelock to captain his All Blacks to take on a France XV in Lyon tomorrow.
But after Hansen took some time to explain to her, as he did us, why a bloke who has just a single test cap (in 2013), and who was not good enough to make his original 37-man travelling squad, nor his initial five callups out of the Barbarians ranks, was suddenly about to become the 133rd All Blacks captain, well it made sense.
For starters, the entire test squad, more or less, have been spared this fixture as they mend their battered bodies from a tough clash against France and ready themselves for Scotland at Murrayfield this weekend. The exceptions are probably Liam Squire, who returns from illness to start at No 6, backup No 10 Lima Sopoaga who gets the start and bench forwards Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Scott Barrett who are part of a 6-2 reserves quota for Lyon.
There are 14 survivors from the match 23 that ran out against the Baabaas at Twickenham and a potential six debutants for this non-cap fixture that the French are billing as the second ‘‘test’’ of their series against the All Blacks.
Hansen probably had other alternatives – openside Ardie Savea and departing halfback
Tawera Kerr-barlow could both have handled it, and maybe it would have brought a voice out in Sopoaga – but in the end the rugged Canterbury loose forward he only called in last week to replace the crocked Jerome Kaino, and who in turn will head home postlyon with the original Baabaas five, just made too much sense.
‘‘My wife asked the same question,’’ Hansen said when queried on his decision. ‘‘How does a bloke who’s only had one game get to be captain. I said well here’s the team, you pick the captain. He’s the one guy that’s got the experience to do
the job.
‘‘Being the captain of a team doesn’t come down to how long you’ve been in it. It’s whether you’re good enough to do that. He’s got the ability, he’s a natural leader, and it comes easy for him. He’s got captaincy history too, for the Highlanders against the Lions and for Canterbury the last few years.’’
Hansen said Whitelock was rapt to be handed the special honour.
‘‘As you would expect he’s pretty humbled by it and excited by the opportunity, not only to
play, but now also lead the team.’’
Jack Goodhue comes in to the midfield after missing the Baabaas clash through illness, and will make his first appearance in the black jersey, alongside reserves Atu Moli, Akira Ioane, Dillon Hunt, Mitch Drummond and Richie Mo’unga.
It could also be the Francebound Tawera Kerr-barlow’s last All Blacks appearance.