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Whitelock : « Je veux que mon record soit battu »

Sam Whitelock s'est confié à Johnnie Beattie dans le nouvel épisode de Fresh Starts, à retrouver sur RugbyPassTV.

Sam Whitelock, qui a récemment annoncé sa retraite internationale, a pris le temps pour RugbyPass de revenir sur sa carrière record et de livrer ses réflexions sur l’avenir du rugby néo-zélandais.

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Fermier dans l’âme, le All Black le plus capé de tous les temps s’est confié à Johnnie Beattie sur ce record phénoménal (153 capes sous le maillot orné de la fougère argentée), et les discussions qu’il entraîne aux quatre coins de l’Ovalie.

Et son souhait, c’est que quelqu’un le batte désormais.

Dans un échange avec l’ancien international écossais pour la nouvelle émission Fresh Starts sur RugbyPassTV, le double champion du monde (2011, 2015) souligne sa volonté de laisser l’avenir du rugby néo-zélandais entre de bonnes mains.

« C’est quelque chose dont j’ai parlé aux gars après avoir joué mon 150e match [avec la Nouvelle-Zélande]. J’ai dit que je voulais que ce record soit battu.

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« Richie [McCaw] en a également parlé, car cela signifie que nous allons préparer la prochaine génération. Nous allons former les gars qui ont peut-être joué deux ou dix test-matchs à l’heure actuelle, parce que nous avons brisé les barrières, et cela les encouragera à faire de même.

« On espère que ce qu’on a accompli permettra à d’autres d’atteindre un niveau élevé. Ce sera sera difficile d’y parvenir, mais lorsqu’ils y arriveront, ce sera vraiment génial.

« Prendre un peu de recul et venir en aide aux autres procure sans doute plus de plaisir que de le faire soi-même. »

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Le joueur de la Section Paloise a ensuite évoqué les meilleurs entraîneurs qu’il a cotoyés, ainsi que de ses réflexions amusantes sur le sélectionneur néo-zélandais Scott Robertson, et a évoqué la finale de la Coupe du monde de rugby qui a « échappé » à la Nouvelle-Zélande.

Retrouvez l’intégralité de la série Fresh Starts sur RugbyPass TV

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B
BeamMeUp 1 hour ago
The Springboks have something you don't have

A few comments. Firstly, I am a Bok fan and it's been a golden period for us. I hope my fellow Bok fans appreciate this time and know that it cannot last forever, so soak it all in!


The other thing to mention (and this is targeted at Welsh, English and even Aussie supporters who might be feeling somewhat dejected) is that it's easy to forget that just before Rassie Erasmus took over in 2018, the Boks were ranked 7th in the world and I had given up hope we'd ever be world beaters again.


Sport is a fickle thing and Rassie and his team have managed to get right whatever little things it takes to make a mediocre team great. I initially worried his methods might be short-lived (how many times can you raise a person's commitment by talking about his family and his love of his country as a motivator), but he seems to have found a way. After winning in 2019 on what was a very simple game plan, he has taken things up ever year - amazing work which has to be applauded! (Dankie Rassie! Ons wardeer wat jy vir die ondersteuners en die land doen!) (Google translate if you don't understand Afrikaans! 😁)


I don't think people outside South Africa fully comprehend the enormity of the impact seeing black and white, English, Afrikaans and Xhosa and all the other hues playing together does for the country's sense of unity. It's pure joy and happiness.


This autumn tour has been a bit frustrating in that the Boks have won, but never all that convincingly. On the one hand, I'd like to have seen more decisive victories, BUT what Rassie has done is expose a huge number of players to test rugby, whilst also diversifying the way the Boks play (Tony Brown's influence).


This change of both style and personnel has resulted in a lack of cohesion at times and we've lost some of the control, whereas had we been playing our more traditional style, that wouldn't happen. This is partially attributable to the fact that you cannot play Tony Brown's expansive game whilst also having 3 players available at every contact point to clear the defence off the ball. I have enjoyed seeing the Boks play a more exciting, less attritional game, which is a boring, albeit effective spectacle. So, I am happy to be patient, because the end justifies the means (and I trust Rassie!). Hopefully all these players we are blooding will give us incredible options for substitutions come next year's Rugby Championship and of course, the big prize in 2027.


Last point! The game of rugby has never been as exciting as it is now. Any of Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Argentina, Scotland, England & Australia can beat one another. South Africa may be ranked #1, but I wouldn't bet my house in them beating France or New Zealand, and we saw Argentina beating both South Africa and New Zealand this year! That's wonderful for the game and makes the victories we do get all the sweeter. Each win is 100% earned. Long may it last!


Sorry for the long post! 🏉🌍

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