The latest instalment of our new weekly feature, picking out the players that are impressing in Super Rugby, and looking at their World Cup chances later this year.
Sam Whitelock
Crusaders, New Zealand
Despite the emergence of Brodie Retalick as New Zealand’s new kingpin lock, Sam Whitelock confirmed his invaluable status to the New Zealand cause when he played a crucial part in the Crusaders’ hammering of the Cheetahs on Saturday. Whitelock was at the forefront of the forwards’ dominance, which saw the home side dismantle the Cheetahs pack, and allowed for their backs to utilise space created from turnovers and front-foot ball.
What made the hulking lock’s performance that much more commendable is that he kept popping up on the inside of wingers, and centres, offering support lines whilst his Cheetah counterparts were lying on the ground, forty metres behind play, still hurting from a Whitelock cleanout. Retallick and Whitelock are ahead of the curve: they handle like backs, and manoeuvre like back rowers. Not to mention that they are both over two metres tall, and weigh north of 120kgs.
Warren Whiteley
Lions, South Africa
Warren Whiteley has had a slow progression into professional rugby. His frame and physique see him surrender 10-15 kgs on other eighth men in the competition, and as a result, he has had to work hard to cement a spot in a Super Rugby franchise. Since taking over at the helm of the Lions, Whiteley has been the key to their re-emergence after many years of difficulty for the Johannesburg based side. He is impeccable in the loose, combining his natural feel for the game and superb ball skills with a sheer desire to put in the unseen work around the breakdown.
Despite these attributes being his greatest strengths, Whiteley had the highest tackle success rate in last year’s Super Rugby competition. The Lions captain made 181 tackles, and missed only four, resulting in a success rate of 97.8%. There may be another rocky road ahead for Whiteley in cementing a Springbok spot, as he has the uphill task of assuring Heyneke Meyer that his size is also his greatest strength. However, due to Whiteley’s leadership ability, desire to punch above his weight and an interview technique that sees him glide between Afrikaans and English seamlessly, he is already being talked about as a future Springbok captain. You can expect Whiteley to show off his array of skills come the group stages of the World Cup, whilst supporting the incumbent Duane Vermeulen come crunch time.
Will Skelton
Waratahs, Australia
Skelton was again superb for the Waratahs against the Brumbies on the weekend. His physique is something to behold, and his huge build provides a deception for his ability to manoeuvre through tackles, and get around the park. He is extremely coordinated for such a cumbersome build, and handles the ball effortlessly, darting his hands through defenders arms, finding offloads with ease. His weight at scrum time is also an added bonus, as the Wallaby pack look to sure up their tight play at this year’s World Cup.
In the Green and Gold shirt, Skelton is often used as an impact sub, and he will add a great deal of impetus to the Wallaby cause in the back end of World Cup group games, especially in Australia’s challenging pool. It will be interesting to see how Skelton’s attributes are uitilised by Michael Cheika come September.
By Ross Jones-Davies (@ross_jd)
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
2 replies on “World Cup Watch: Super Rugby Round 6”
Whitelock and Retallick really are setting the standard for locks at the moment
We’ve got good strength in depth at lock for England but at the moment none of ours quite reach the same high standard – however, I think that all four of Lawes, Launchbury, Parling and Attwood could reach the same level with Kruis slightly behind them in his development but with loads of potential
I think the area that most needs the work in the english locks is the ball handling – passing, off-loads, drawing the defender etc.
Do agree that those 4 have huge talent.