Captain Calm
It may be their biggest game of the season to date, but don’t expect Crusaders captain Sam Whitelock to change his low-key leadership style for tonight’s Super Rugby semifinal against the Hurricanes.
Sam Whitelock should be giving off a vibe that suggests he would love nothing better than to issue a death stare at his interrogators.
Given the Crusaders captain will be loaded up with multiple responsibilities during the Super Rugby semifinal against the Hurricanes in Christchurch tonight, some may think he should have already worked himself into a cranky state.
As the saying goes, the buck stops with the boss.
Come kickoff at AMI Stadium Whitelock must navigate his team through a potential minefield that could range from controversial decisions by referee Jaco Peyper, to unconventional tactics from the opposition or, God forbid, a thick fog blanketing the ground.
However, if Whitelock, 29, was feeling nervy at the team’s captain’s run yesterday he had buried his emotions deep within.
Rather than stalk around in a dark mood as if ready to lash out at an inanimate object, the towering lock appeared relaxed and confident his team’s preparations would give them a decent shot at defending their crown.
Whitelock’s not the type to roar obscenities, or deliver Churchillian speeches prior to the players
departing the changing shed.
‘‘I wouldn’t say I am an overtalkative captain,’’ he said. ‘‘I think when people are talking too much they are a little bit nervous, and may not have done their own prep
throughout the week.
‘‘That probably comes through in talking too much. The beautiful thing here is we have so many experienced leaders and there are some great voices from some of the
young boys. In some games I don’t even say anything.’’
The is no denying Whitelock is the right man for this job. Last year new coach Scott Robertson invited Whitelock to replace Kieran Read
‘‘The beautiful thing here is we have so many experienced leaders . . . in some games I don’t even say anything.’’
as captain, reasoning the latter already had a full brief as the leader of the All Blacks.
Robertson made the correct call. Whitelock led the Crusaders to their first title since 2008, and is now only 80 minutes away – barring the need to play extra time – from securing a home final in Christchurch for the first time since that date.
There is more to this than just winning a ninth title. Success could also, hopefully, nudge the bureaucrats into acknowledging they could do more to fast-track a decent stadium into a city that lost Lancaster Park in the 2011 earthquakes.
At this time of the season, Robertson says it’s all about finetuning the team’s operation – ensuring the players have studied the game plan from all angles, rather than thrashing them on the training paddock, is a primary focus.
The basic framework of the game plan that has been utilised this season won’t change with Whitelock, a veteran of 99 tests, describing any changes as ‘‘tweaks’’.
The Crusaders have the luxury of narrowing their attack with rolling mauls, or using forwards to carry near breakdowns, and can also use their set pieces to place pressure on Hurricanes star playmaker Beauden Barrett.
Although the early softening up period could involve some aerial table tennis, neither side is going to be daft enough to ignore their finishers. Whitelock and his forwards have plucked their heads out of enough rucks to see George Bridge and Seta Tamanivalu making line breaks, or Richie Mo’unga accelerating into a hole, to know they can trust the backline.
Lessons have been learned from last year’s successful run, said Whitelock. At this time of the season it’s about being in top gear from the first second; no bodies have been thrashed in the leadup.
‘‘There is nothing worse than be a little bit fatigued going into that 80 minutes. We are trying to get to that and be really roaring and ready to go.’’