Players are regularly asked to fill-in question sheets for programmes and websites about their interests from favourite holiday resorts to best foods.
Answers cover the whole range often depending on players' moods when they are asked to deliver their responses. One of Sam Whitelock's responses said a fair bit though about the young lock who is approaching test appearances set by Colin Meads and is notching performances which are getting towards the top All Black standards.
He much admires Michael Jordon, the basketball legend from the Chicago Bulls who set such incredible marks and levels of personal performances during his NBA career.
Whitelock is only a four year All Black and at 25 is yet to discover the physical and mental boundaries involved in his work. But in that short time he has gone past 50 caps, marked many of the world's best and inhaled an invaluable amount of knowledge to deal with his role.
Away from the inquisition of the fourth estate, Whitelock is a relaxed character who likes the outdoors and is most relaxed letting off some energy at the beach or in the hills. When he sits down for official interviews, he tends to push the questions back from where they came without divulging too much about his character.
Whitelock inhabits the tail section of the lineout for the All Blacks where his delivery off the top, if the throw is on target, is usually a banker. He grunts up in the scrum and with his long stride and fitness is a consistent contributor to the rucks, mauls and defensive line.
Statistics
Date of birth: 12 October 1988
Position: Lock
Matches: 50
Tests: 50
Test debut: 12 June 2010 v Ireland, New Plymouth
Province: Canterbury
Franchise: Crusaders
Test tries: 4
Test points: 20