From a broken little toe to cuts, sprains, torn muscles and concussions, there’s no denying that All Black Sam Whitelock has put his body on the line for sport.
From his early days, making his debut at 21 years of age, to becoming the most capped All Black in history, Sam has always been committed to the game. His career spanned four World Cup campaigns and it didn’t matter who he was playing for, Sam always played as hard as he could and always played when he could.
“If I’m fit, I’m available, if I’m not, I’m not. I know it sounds simple but sometimes people overcomplicate matters. I’ve played this game long enough to trust myself. But at the same time, I knew that by playing, I was setting my timetable for full fitness back a couple of weeks,” he says.
In his memoir, Sam discusses physical and mental toughness, leadership and coaching, footy field friends (and foes!) and tradition. He also provides insights on how family and farming provided a solid foundation for his success.
“Written goals have been a huge motivating force in my life. Every year I get an exercise book, write my goals in the front - where I can’t ignore them - and work towards them.”
Although he is proudly the most capped All Black of all time, the past 14 years have not all been shiny trophies and personal accolades, he says. At one time, he held the record for the most yellow cards for an All Black and has been a member of the team during heavy test losses.
“And here is the stat that, for me, stands out the most: no All Black has experienced as many Test losses as me. Some 22 times I took to the field, sang the anthem, performed the kaka and went on to lose.”
I especially enjoyed the last chapter of View from the Second Row, when Sam’s family shared their memories of his early days including school, character traits, leaving home and life after rugby. Filled with photos of Sam’s playing career, the appendix includes career records of the Whitelock family and Sam’s All Blacks statistics.
View from the Second Row is an in-depth journey into the career of one of New Zealand’s most revered rugby players. It’s a must-read for all rugby fans! Read an extract here.
Reviewer: Andrea Molloy
HarperCollins