Sam Whitelock

Like, a fabulous player, absolute quality rugby player three or four years ago.

We never spoke once about Scott, I mean, uh, Sam Whitelock.

Let's drop him.

And he's our highest-test All Black.

And I feel as though the way we were good against Ireland, we were brilliant in the second half and Artie had the win, but it wasn't cool.

So Sam Whitelock got over it.

That's the response I think we're going to get in 12 months time, 13 months time against South Africa in the World Cup.

I mean, I think also, too, this series might have been 12 months too early for Dave reading, I think.

And it was a really great day.

Sam Whitelock came out.

And it's quite funny.

He's on our wall.

And probably twice a month people come in our kitchen and say, is that

actually

Sam Whitelock on your wall? it's always a great chance to say yep and it's because of farmstrong and you should check out the website

that's so cool i've met sam whitelock at uh field days this year and stood next to him and i have to say i pretty much only came up to his elbow i think he had to bend right down to talk to me so i felt incredibly small yeah

And if you're running a leadership program based on the Crusaders, then those names will be synonymous with what leadership looks like.

Yeah, well, in fact, our leadership program features Wayne Smith and Robbie Deans and I've worked very closely with them as well as Sam Whitelock and Karen Reed and Scott Robertson.

So I want to ask you because I've heard that story many times.

So 96, obviously the first year of professionalism, first year of Super Rugby.

And that's a classic thing.

For example, we used to see that from Victor Matfield or Sam Whitelock.

That was their specialty, that finding that space.

And again, it's just an area where the All Blacks will have to make a fairly significant adjustment because I guess the spring box exposed something there.

He was injured.

You know, we thought he was dead and buried, mate, and he's come out and put on probably the best display a lock has displayed since Brodie Rutelic and Sam Whitelock.

He's just been amazing, mate.

And I'm sick and tired of people saying...