Whitelock to return as enemy
Much has changed between visits to Christchurch’s AMI Stadium for Highlanders loose forward Luke Whitelock.
The Canterbury captain’s last match there – against Tasman last October – ended with him holding aloft the Mitre 10 Cup for a second consecutive year, having guided the red and blacks to their 13th national provincial title.
As has been the case since debuting for Canterbury in 2011, the former Crusader was spurred on by a healthy home crowd.
However, for the first time since leaving the Christchurchbased franchise for the Highlanders after the 2015 Super Rugby season, Whitelock will run out on to AMI Stadium in enemy colours on Saturday afternoon.
Whitelock is expected to start at No 8 against the unbeaten, competition leading Crusaders, a match the Highlanders themselves will tackle on the back of a nine-match winning streak.
‘‘It’s going to be awesome to be back playing, and obviously the Crusaders is a big occasion with the way they’ve gone throughout the season,’’ Whitelock said.
In a match featuring the two form teams in the competition, Whitelock will get a chance to lay a few hits on a bunch of provincial team mates, and Crusaders captain and brother Sam.
‘‘I gave him [Sam] a wee call this morning but it was strictly about sorting out family with tickets. There’s not too much banter going on, no,’’ Whitelock said.
Courtesy of a stirring secondhalf rally, the Crusaders won the first meeting between the teams in Dunedin in round two, when wing Seta Tamanivalu brushed off a few tackles and scored the late matchwinner.
Since then, they’ve rattled off 11 more wins, and not even the Hurricanes and Chiefs were able to stop them in their tracks.
But come Saturday, in a match being played in the afternoon because of the start of the British and Irish Lions tour, one winning streak must end.
Whitelock, who played 50 games for the Crusaders between 2012-15, isn’t just familiar with many of the franchise’s players, but also first year head coach Scott Robertson and assistant coach Jason Ryan.
Robertson, Canterbury’s head coach between 2013-16, appointed Whitelock as captain in 2015, and the later isn’t surprised by his former coach’s instant success at the next level.
‘‘I’m sure Razor has gone in there and hasn’t changed too much in the way he coaches,’’ Whitelock said.
‘‘A lot of the things will be similar to what I’ve experienced, and they’re obviously playing very good football and leading Super Rugby.
‘‘They’re all quality guys. You look at their track record and that pretty much explains it.
‘‘They’ve done very well and that’s just a credit to their ability and they’ve obviously had an unbeaten season and they’re quality coaches.’’
Whitelock is contracted to the Highlanders until the end of next season, and will again return to Christchurch to play for Canterbury in this year’s NPC.
The 26-year-old will feature heavily in new coach Glenn Delaney’s plans, unless All Blacks coach Steve Hansen comes calling for the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup.
Last week, Highlanders coach Tony Brown had high praise for Whitelock, who he compared to the best loose forwards in the country and suggested he put pressure on All Blacks selectors ahead of the Lions tour.
‘‘I guess I can always be better,’’ Whitelock said when discussing his form.
‘‘There’s been some things that have grown for me since I came down to the Highlanders.
‘‘I enjoy getting out there and playing a good brand of code and just trying to go out there and play my best every week.’’
A sellout crowd of about 21,000 is expected on Saturday afternoon.