The most capped All Black in history speaks for the record about his storied career, spanning three rugby world cup grand finals, nine super rugby finals, and 153 appearances in the black jersey.

After making his debut for New Zealand in 2010, Sam Whitelock was selected for the 2011 rugby world cup campaign, playing in all seven matches and emerging victorious in New Zealand's first world cup win since 1986. Four years later he played in all seven matches of the 2015 world cup defence, becoming one of just a handful of players to win back-to-back world cups. Whitelock became instrumental to the most successful period of All Blacks rugby in the modern era, and in his retirement year, he topped his career off with a performance for the ages, and a record seven consecutive championships for the Crusaders.