Sam Whitelock's 5 Rugby Legends — And Why an Australian Topped the List

He shared a dressing room with Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and Kieran Read — yet the teammate Sam Whitelock respected most was an Australian. After 153 Tests across 13 years, five names kept returning. Two were legendary opponents. One was an assistant ​he ranked above two World Cup-winning ​head coaches. One was ​a ​rival he only understood once they shared a ​jersey ​in Japan. One taught a 21-year-old how to survive the game. The list: ​Bakkies Botha, the Springbok who owned the contact; Victor ​Matfield, the lineout brain he out-jumped at Twickenham ​in the 2015 semi-final; Wayne Smith, the assistant ​he named ​his best coach; David Pocock, the ​Wallaby who reshaped his idea of preparation; and Brad Thorn, ​his ​2011 World ​Cup final ​partner, who showed him how to build a body that lasts 15 years instead of three. From the 8-7 final against France at Eden Park to the 64th start that broke the Botha-Matfield ​record, this is the story of ​the lessons behind the most capped lock ​in All ​Blacks history: ​125 wins, 22 ​losses, six draws. Which of the ​five would you ​put first — and is a name missing? Tell us in the comments, and subscribe for more rugby stories worth remembering. #SamWhitelock ​#RugbyLegends #AllBlacks #RugbyWorldCup #BakkiesBotha #VictorMatfield ​#BradThorn #DavidPocock #WayneSmith #Springboks #Wallabies #RugbyHistory #AllBlacksRugby #RugbyStories #RugbyLore