Lions captain Warren Whiteley insists he’s not looking to trump his opposite number, Crusaders leader Kieran Read, in tomorrow night’s Super Rugby clash at Emirates Airline Park. But a good performance by the Lions skipper could significantly boost his chances of being the Springbok No 8 later this year.
It promises to be one of the tightest and most thrilling matches Lions fans will see this season. The Crusaders are multiple champions; the Lions are a team on the up - and right now both are playing with confidence and fervour.
What has made the Crusaders the champion team they are is that they’ve always been a tight-knit unit where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The Lions have also become such a side.
But, in rugby, individuals will inevitably stand out above others, and for the Lions and Crusaders it is their captains, the No 8s Warren Whiteley and Kieran Read, who are unquestionably the men who keep their teams powering forward.
Both men will be out to inspire their teams to victory tomorrow evening, but at the back of their minds they’ll also be striving to outdo each other because whoever comes out on top in that battle is very likely to be on the winning side after 80 minutes.
For, as the No 8s, it is Whiteley and Read who have to carry their teams forward, get them over the advantage line, make the tackles and link with the backs, while the decisions they make on the field, such as opting to kick at goal or touch, could go a long way in determining the outcome.
Then there’s the slightly bigger picture to consider: Test rugby later this year.
Read, with 84 Tests behind him, is expected to be named All Blacks skipper, replacing the retired Richie McCaw, while Whiteley must be in the running to earn a more permanent spot in the Bok squad and add to his three Tests played so far, all from off the bench. He’s even a contender to take over the captaincy of the side.
Whiteley, though, wants none of it. “It’s nice going up against a player like Read, but I wouldn’t say we’ll be measuring ourselves against each other. We don’t have individual battles here at the Lions - but what is nice about Super Rugby is that you play against international players each week, guys you look up to, and he (Read) is one of those players,” said Whiteley before the game.
“It’s the same as when we played against the Stormers - playing against Duane Vermeulen. I don’t see the other No 8 as a direct challenge. The important thing for me and the other players in the team is to stay in the process, to do my job. It’s definitely not me against him.”
There is no doubt though that every Bok fan will be keeping an eye on the Whiteley-Read battle.
Whitely, meanwhile, says the Crusaders will arguably pose the biggest test for the Lions this season. “They’ll challenge us for the full 80 minutes,” he said. “Even if they’re behind they’ll always believe they can win it (as they did against the Sharks). They’re an extremely dangerous team; they’ve got a pack that will challenge anyone, they’re strong in the scrums and line-outs, and their outside backs are very dangerous.
“They also kick smartly and intelligently and, like all the New Zealand sides, they look for opportunities and try and exploit the opposition. They seem to peak at the right times - but we enjoy playing against New Zealand opposition. It’s always a great challenge.”
Coach Johan Ackermann said he had a lot of respect for the men from Canterbury. “They’re a mature team and have great leadership - it’s going to be a big test for us, but all we need do is focus on what’s worked for us to now, play our game and achieve our goals.”
After their narrow and error-ridden win over the Sharks last weekend, Blackadder has made four changes to his team for Friday night’s match. Prop Wyatt Crockett will wear the number one jersey this week, rotating with Joe Moody, who will take a spot on the bench.
Luke Romano and Scott Barrett will start at lock, with Sam Whitelock shifting to the bench. Jimmy Tupou and Jordan Taufua have also rotated, with Tupou starting at blindside flank this week and Taufua moving to the bench. The starting backline is unchanged from last week.
Crusaders: David Havili, Johnny McNicholl, Kieron Fonotia, Ryan Crotty, Nemani Nadolo, Richie Mo’unga, Andy Ellis, Kieran Read (capt), Matt Todd, Jimmy Tupou, Scott Barrett, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett. Replacements: Ben Funnell, Joe Moody, Mike Alaalatoa, Sam Whitelock, Jordan Taufua, Mitchell Drummond, Ben Volavola, Sean Wainui. – The Mercury