RICHARD KNOWLER Sam Whitelock would get the captain’s wings and take charge of the first All Blacks team named for 2021. With regular skipper Sam Cane, who earlier this month had surgery to fix a pectoral injury and could be unavailable for up to 6 months, it wouldn’t be right to deny Whitelock. Lock Whitelock has played 122 tests, and guided the Crusaders to 3 titles between 2017 and 2019. He deserves to replace Cane. Injuries and playing sabbaticals to Japan have reduced the options after 8 rounds of Super Rugby Aotearoa. Lock Brodie Retallock, first five-eighth/fullback Beauden Barrett and halfback TJ Perenara haven’t been considered because they‘re earning some extra coin and sampling the ramens in Japan.
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