Sam Whitelock’s grit and grind attitude coupled with his unrivalled expertise has been fuelling the All Blacks‘ engine room for well over the past decade, leaving almighty boots to fill for the next generation.
That next generation is set to be thrust into the limelight with an opportunity previous locks stifled by Whitelock’s stature throughout his immense tenure could only dream of.
One man who was present for the entirety of Whitelock’s journey in the black jersey is former All Blacks manager Darren Shand, who stepped away from the team following last year’s Rugby World Cup after 20 years in the role.
Shand witnessed first-hand Whitelock’s influence both on and off the field, but also those who came before him and how they influenced the man who would become the All Blacks’ all-time most capped player.
“One thing I’ve always known with the All Blacks is we’re always okay,” Shand told SENZ…
Leave a reply