Sam Whitelock returns for one last hurrah with Crusaders

Sam Whitelock and Scott Robertson.
Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz

Veteran Sam Whitelock has overcome an achilles injury and will start for the Crusaders in Saturday’s Super Rugby final against the Chiefs, his final appearance for the side.

All Blacks lock Whitelock, who has 143 test caps and has played 177 games for the Crusaders, is heading to French club Pau after this year’s World Cup.

This weekend’s final in Hamilton is also the last game for coach Scott Robertson and All Blacks first-five Richie Mo’unga with the defending champions, with the former moving on to coach the All Blacks and the latter taking his talents to Japan.

Robertson has made just the one change to the starting XV from the side that crushed the Blues in last week’s semi-final in Christchurch, with Whitelock starting at lock in place of Quinten Strange.

For the third week in a row, the front row remains unchanged, with new All Black Tamaiti Williams, Codie Taylor and Oliver Jager anchoring the scrum. .

Captain Scott Barrett leads the pack from lock alongside Whitelock, Sioni Talitui, Tom Christie, and Christian Lio-Willie.

Departing playmaker and Crusaders centurion Mo’unga starts at No.10 once again, with Mitchell Drummond at halfback.

Another departing New Zealand the end of 2023 is All Blacks back Leicester Fainga’anuku who will play on the wing in his last game for the Crusaders.

Former All Blacks midfielder Jack Goodhue is at second-five with current All Black Braydon Ennor at centre.

Dallas McLeod, another debutant in the recently named All Blacks squad, is on the right wing, with All Black Will Jordan at fullback.

The bench consists of George Bell, Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Reuben O’Neill, Quinten Strange, Dominic Gardiner, Willi Heinz, Fergus Burke and Chay Fihaki.