Robertson dangles a test return

One of the great sporting comebacks may be on the cards later this year as All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has made a play to persuade Sam Whitelock to return to New Zealand and resume his test career.

The man who won hundreds of lineouts for the All Blacks, who thundered into more rucks than anyone could possibly recall, who produced the unforgettable turnover to thwart Ireland’s 37-phase effort to rescue last year’s World Cup quarter-final, and the man who said last year that his days of playing international rugby were over — is potentially going to write a postscript to his incredible test career.

The veteran lock, who thought he had played his last game for the All Blacks in the World Cup final, is considering returning to New Zealand after a compelling sales pitch from Robertson, who was recently in Europe and Japan.

Robertson and his coaching team are not convinced Whitelock is done as an international force — they saw him deliver outstanding performances at the World Cup last year and believe that if he came back to New Zealand in June this year after the French club season wraps up, that he’d be in contention to add to his test tally of 153 caps and push past the world record of appearances set by Welsh lock Alun Wyn Jones.

The new All Blacks coach has a long and trusted relationship with Whitelock after working together at the Crusaders for seven years and he believes that the most experienced test player in New Zealand history could still add significant value to this year’s squad both as a player, leader and mentor.

Whitelock will turn 36 this October, but Robertson and his coaching team believe that the former Crusaders captain could eke out at least one more test season, possibly two, where he would be in contention to start each test.

But they also see value in having him back within the squad, where his experience, leadership and mana would bolster the rugby IQ of the whole group.

The post-world Cup exodus saw the All Blacks lose players with an accumulated 500-plus test caps — Dane Coles, Brodie Retallick, Aaron Smith and Richie Mo’unga — and there is a desire to restore some of that experience and know-how by bringing back Whitelock — who began his test career in 2010 and who has played at four World Cups.

Robertson and the bulk of his coaching team are new to international rugby and for them, there will also be much to be gained from having Whitelock to lean on for advice. — NZ Herald