"We'll wait and see on Sam Whitelock," Foster told The Breakdown<\/em>, available to stream now on Stan Sport.<\/a><\/p>\n Watch the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific final on the home of rugby, Stan Sport.<\/strong><\/em> All matches streaming ad free, live and on demand<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n "We certainly wouldn't expect him to play based on the medical data that we've got with his Achilles."<\/p>\n But Foster's All Blacks heir apparent, Scott Robertson<\/a>, then went and inked Whitelock's name on his final Crusaders team sheet on Thursday.<\/p>\n "We will take it right to the warm up for him," Robertson told reporters.<\/p>\n READ MORE: <\/strong>'Ostracised' Meninga to quit Titans over bombshell<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n READ MORE: <\/strong>Just eight Blues safe as Freddy's men face overhaul<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n READ MORE: <\/strong>'Put down your phone': NSW star blasted for 4am post<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n "He's trained extremely well, done everything all week, it's looking positive."<\/p>\n It would be Whitelock's final game for the storied franchise before \ufefftaking up a contract in France next season.<\/p>\n "It's massive, he's obviously a legend of our club and a legend of New Zealand rugby. I know he's worked extremely hard over the last couple of weeks, and sat there with his fingers crossed, hoping that we'd get to the final," Crusaders halfback Mitchell Drummond said.<\/p>\n NEW PODCAST! Sean Maloney, Morgan Turinui and Stephen Hoiles work out where the Brumbies came unstuck, hand out some awards and preview the final between the Chiefs and Crusaders<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n https:\/\/omny.fm\/shows\/between-two-posts-1\/awards-night-the-last-dance\/embed<\/a><\/p>\n "Now, we're here, it's unbelievable that he's given himself an opportunity to have one last crack in the jersey."\ufeff<\/p>\n Whitelock has replaced Quinten Strange in the Crusaders second row.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Chiefs have also named a settled side with Pita Gus Sowakula getting the nod ahead of new All Blacks pick Samipeni Finau at blindside flanker.\ufeff<\/p>\n https:\/\/twitter.com\/StanSportRugby\/status\/1671761639828324352?s=20<\/a><\/p>\n CHIEFS (15-1):<\/strong> Shaun Stevenson, Emoni Narawa, Alex Nankivell, Anton Lienert-Brown, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Damian McKenzie, Brad Weber (co-c), Luke Jacobson, Sam Cane (co-c), Pita Gus Sowakula, Tupou Vaa'i, Brodie Retallick, George Dyer, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Aidan Ross<\/p>\n Reserves:<\/strong> Tyrone Thompson, Ollie Norris, John Ryan, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Samipeni Finau, Cortez Ratima, Josh Ioane, Rameka Poihipi<\/p>\n CRUSADERS (15-1):<\/strong> Will Jordan, Dallas McLeod, Braydon Ennor, Jack Goodhue, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Richie Mo'unga, Mitch Drummond, Christian Lio-Willie, Tom Christie, Sione Havili Talitui, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett (c), Oli Jager, Codie Taylor, Tamaiti Williams<\/p>\n Reserves:<\/strong> George Bell, Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Reuben O'Neill, Quinten Strange, Dom Gardiner, Willi Heinz, Fergus Burke, Chay Fihaki<\/p>\n For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/strong><\/em> clicking here<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n
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