Last updated 17:55, June 8 2018
ANDREW CORNAGA/PHOTOSPORT
Sam Whitelock says his confidence levels are where they need to be for the All Blacks' season opener at Eden Park.
Sam Whitelock says his confidence levels are where they need to be for the All Blacks' season opener at Eden Park.
Sam Whitelock is a stoic sort at the best of times, let alone when he's about to tick off a couple of pretty important boxes like he is at Eden Park on Saturday night.
So when the new All Blacks skipper – standing in for the sidelined Kieran Read – was asked about his confidence levels heading into a test without having played a game of footy in nearly a month (last appearance May 12), well you might as well have asked him if he was scared of big, ugly Frenchmen.
Whitelock, of course, will lead the All Blacks on Saturday night against France for just the second time in his career, and first occasion on home soil. Slammin' Sam is the type of person who takes that privilege, nay honour, very, very seriously.
Sam and Luke Whitelock will play just their second test together, but first on home soil, on Saturday night.
Adding to the enormity of the occasion is that he will do so alongside little brother Luke, also for the second time in his career, but the first on home territory – making this a real family affair for the All Blacks who will run out three (Barrett) brothers in their starting XV for the first time in their long history.
So it's fair to say Whitelock wasn't looking for any excuses ahead of Saturday night, and certainly wasn't entertaining a skerrick of self-doubt on the back of his spell out with concussion symptoms.
"It's frustrating – you always want to be out there if you're 100 per cent fit, and even if you're not," he said at Eden Park after Friday's captain's run.
"My confidence levels are where they need to be. I've been lucky enough to be in this environment a couple of times (Saturday will be his 97th test), so I just need to back myself and my ability. At times I'm going to be blowing hard, but that's normal in a test match."
But Whitelock says he will be energised by the familiar sight of Scott Barrett alongside in the second row ("He gives me that confidence to go out and worry about my own thing because he's playing so well"), by having so many established leaders around him and especially by having brother Luke prowling in the pack at No 8.
Initially Whitelock was tricked by a question about having another All Blacks skipper in the pack, identifying openside flanker Sam Cane who has led his country twice in tests.
Told the questioner was referring to his brother, who led the All Blacks against the French XV in Lyon last year, a broad smile broke out across the rugged second-rower's face.
"Having little bro' there is good too. Sometimes he's beating me to the punch because he knows what I'm going to say and he sneaks in there and does it."
Whitelock confirmed they would have their parents, Braeden and Caroline, and wife and partner, among other family members, in the stands on Saturday night.
"All those old clichés about growing up as Kiwi kids in the backyard talking about being your favourite player and actually getting out there and doing it apply here. It is very special."
Whitelock identified two aspects to the All Blacks playing well first up against an unpredictable foe like the French whom they've beaten 11 straight, but have lost to on home soil before (most recently in 2009, but also twice in 1994).
"Everyone has got to worry about themselves first, myself included. If we can do that then the rest of it comes a lot easier.
"And keeping it simple will be important. Everyone is picked because they're good rugby players, so they need to just trust that natural instinct that's built up over many years."
In terms of the French, with their mix of familiar names such as Maxime Médard, Teddy Thomas, Mathieu Bastareaud, Morgan Parra, Yoann Maestri and Camille Chat, and not so recognisable, Whitelock said his men would be primed to expect the unexpected.
"Every time you play the French – and I've been lucky enough to play them a few times now – you've got to be prepared for everything, no matter if it's scrum, lineout maul or the more expansive game they've been playing lately. We've got to be ready for a number of different options they can play, because when they do decide to go one way, they're very good at it."
And on the eve of this brotherly test, the skip was asked who wins when it's Whitelocks v Barretts putting down.
"Well, there's more of them than us, so it would be pretty tight hopefully."
A small smile. Then back to the serious business.