Whitelock ready Five key selection decisions for Foster for pressure test
Sam Whitelock has seen it all before. Of course he has over a 134-test All Blacks career that stretches back 13 seasons and some giddy peaks, interspersed with a few gut-wrenching lows.
So, as he ponders the latest predicament ahead of back-to-back tests against the Springboks in South Africa that are not just likely to decide the fate of the head coach – New Zealand Rugby boss Mark Robinson made that tantalisingly clear last Saturday – but indeed tell us a lot about the future prospects of an All Blacks team giving every indication of teetering on the brink, it was notable to hear him put things in fairly firm perspective.
The All Blacks’ most capped player said from the team’s training base in White River, just out of Mbombela, formerly Nelspruit in the northeast of the republic, that he knows exactly what to draw on as he looks to do his bit to negotiate a way out of the mire.
‘‘When I first came into the team we were going into a World Cup at home, and hadn’t won it for 24 years,’’ he said. ‘‘There was a lot of external pressure, and the best advice I got from senior players was don’t read into the media, don’t worry about all those things, just control what you can control.
‘‘That’s the main thing I’ve been telling the boys – think about yourself, control how you train, prepare and play. It was the best thing I got given as advice, and it’s still true now.’’
But Whitelock acknowledged this was a different sort of position the All Blacks found themselves in after defeat in four of their last five tests, and a first home series loss in 28 years.
You have to go all the way back to 1998 for a worse funk (five straight defeats to Australia and South Africa from July 11 to August 29), though 2009’s four losses in eight tests, including a three-game sweep by the Boks, also offers eerie similarities.
‘‘The pressure cooker is still on,’’ said Whitelock in response to a query on whether it was good to escape the reaction at home.
‘‘As players and as a team we’re always trying to put pressure on ourselves. But it is good for us to be over here. It’s a great time to work on what we need to work on, we’ve got great facilities, a training field nice and close to our hotel, so we can have a little more time on the field to improve.’’
Indeed, they’ll surely need to against the predatory Springboks who would have been watching the All Blacks’ descent since they rolled them in Robina last October with interest.
‘‘We’re always looking to get better – that shouldn’t change, win loss or draw,’’ added the 33-yearold lock who has tucked away 20 tests against the South Africans in his career.
‘‘But at the moment we know we have some areas we need to be better at. Conceding a couple of maul tries [against Ireland] is an obvious one for myself as a tight forward.’’
Whitelock talked about the predictable mature of the Boks’ gameplan and cautioned, ‘‘they’re smart guys, they play all around the world, and have a number of different styles they can go to … the beauty of rugby is sometimes you know how they’re going to play and it’s actually stopping it that’s the major one’’.
The All Blacks are up against it in South Africa. Forget the Springboks’ unconvincing 2-1 series win against Wales in July – we have to assume they will be ready for the All Blacks.
About a dozen of the Springboks who were humiliated 57-0 at North Harbour in 2017 are likely to be involved again in Mbombela this weekend, so the All Blacks can expect little in the way of mercy.
Here are five selections that will show how the All Blacks intend to stand up to the approaching storm.
Is Caleb Clarke finally fit enough to be unleashed?
A big, elusive runner on the dry tracks of South Africa – what’s not to like about that prospect?
It’s been more than two months since Clarke injured his hamstring in Super Rugby, and by taking him to South Africa the All Blacks have signalled that he is good to go.
His inclusion on the left wing would give the All Blacks a timely boost – neither Leicester Fainga’anuku nor Sevu Reece nailed the role during the Ireland series.
Moving Rieko Ioane to the No 11 is another option – but with Jack Goodhue unavailable due to injury, Ioane should retain the No 13 jersey.
Ethan de Groot could be the man to stand up to the Springboks.
Leaner but still as mean, the Southlander is probably the most confrontational prop in New Zealand.
Asked to get fitter by the All Blacks, the Highlanders No 1 responded by dropping some kilograms and will be desperate to get stuck into the Springboks.
His scrummaging improved during Super Rugby Pacific and he was unlucky not to be included in the All Blacks squad to face Ireland after dominating the Blues scrum in the quarterfinal.
The omission clearly stung, so de Groot would be a man on a mission if he plays against South Africa.
The Beauden Barrett versus Richie Mo’unga decision.
Both men fronted the media during the turbulent past week – that speaks to their leadership qualities.
However, only one can wear the No 10 jersey and Ian Foster’s long history of working with Barrett could tip the scales in favour of the Blues man.
When Barrett was at his absolute best in 2016 Foster was the All Blacks attack coach, and that relationship has been rekindled with Foster taking a more hands-on role.
‘‘It is good for us to be over here.’’
Sam Whitelock
South Africa SOS to Samisoni?
The omission of big Chiefs hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho for the third test against Ireland was a head scratcher.
If there is one hooker in New Zealand with the combativeness to stand up to the world’s best packs, it’s Taukei’aho.
He is the future of the All Blacks front row alongside de Groot and the uncapped Fletcher Newell – a trio that can really change the conversation about the standing of the All Blacks’ tight five.
Injecting him into the starting lineup this weekend would signal the All Blacks’ desire to fight fire with fire, although he could also be given a bench role to combat Springboks man mountain Malcolm Marx.
Akira Ioane versus Shannon Frizell for the No 6 jersey
The bruising Blues flanker was one of the All Blacks’ best against Ireland in Wellington.
Competition for the No 6 jersey has arrived in the form of the recalled Shannon Frizell, but the Highlanders flanker is short of game time.
Other options include Scott Barrett and Tupou Vaa’i, but they will be surely be needed for the engine room as the All Blacks once again adapt to life without the injured Brodie Retallick.
Ioane didn’t produce his best in two tests against South Africa last year but his ball-carrying against Ireland was encouraging.