Rugby World Cup 2015: Giant Whitelock looms large over World Cup

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key congratulates Samuel Whitelock in the dressing room following the 2015 Rugby World Cup Semi Final match between South Africa and New Zealand. Photo / Getty.

There's a picture of Sam Whitelock which has gained a bit of traction in the last few days.

The All Black lock looks like a giant as he shakes the Prime Minister's had after the semifinal.

It's clever photography of course but Whitelock has loomed large over this World Cup and must be starting to look as big as he does in that picture to the Wallabies' locks.

The simplistic analysis of the final is pitting loose trio against loose trio and pinning their respective work at the breakdown as the key to the contest. The breakdown will certainly be important but it won't be a simple case of loose trio versus loose trio. It never is.

The breakdown always has been and always will be a contest ultimately determined by the tight five. They have to do the thankless chores that allow the loose trio to look like rock stars.

Domination is built on the strength and technique of the ball carriers and the speed, accuracy and ruthlessness of the cleanout. The burden for most of this work falls on the tight five.

And it's partly here where Whitelock has had such a good World Cup. He's found that injection of pace when he carries into contact and he's rediscovered the art of running through the tackler and blitzing the edge of the ruck to wipe out anything there.

He's also been one of the All Blacks most prolific tacklers, making 41 - which is just three less than Richie McCaw - and he has stolen lineout ball six times.

That last statistic is perhaps the one that concerns Australia most as their desire to play both David Pocock and Michael Hooper does severely compromise their jumping options at the lineout.

Australia have just three targets to hit - Kane Douglas, Rob Simmons and Scott Fardy. By international standards that's at least one option short and neither of the two locks would be recognised as world class aerial performers. Good but not in the top echelon which is probably why Australia's lineout success at this tournament sits at 87 per cent compared with the All Blacks 95 per cent.

The more telling statistic, though, is that teams playing against the All Blacks at this World Cup have only enjoyed on average 77 per cent success ratios at the lineout, while Australia's opponents have enjoyed an 82 per cent rate.

The advantage the All Blacks have is they use five genuine options in Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Kieran Read, Jerome Kaino and Richie McCaw.

Whitelock and Read are among the best aerial exponents in the business and the height and athleticism of the All Black back five has potential to put considerable pressure on the Wallaby lineout.

Finding space to throw will be tough and there will be no easy wins for the Wallabies. Whitelock may well indeed start to look like a giant as the game develops and he and Read attack the Wallaby throw.

"There are a number of areas where we have got to make sure we are on the money," says Whitelock. "The breakdown is one, the scrum is another...it kind of goes and goes making sure we are on top of our game as they will be on top of theirs. Putting our best foot forward will be critical."

That best foot wasn't put forward in the last final but Whitelock feels the experience of having played in one will be hugely beneficial.

"There is obviously pressure involved every team that plays competitive sport has that pressure but with the World Cup it is obviously more increased. We are aware of that and have some systems in place to deal with that."

'Comparing now with four years ago - well obviously I am four years older and have wised up a little bit."