The rise of Ethan Blackadder as a first-choice All Blacks starter has come as no surprise to captain Sam Whitelock.
After receiving his first All Blacks call up at the start of the 2021 season, and making his test debut against Tonga, Blackadder is yet to take a backwards step in the black jersey, and now finds himself as the incumbent in the No. 6 jersey.
Beating the likes of Akira Ioane and Shannon Frizell for game time, Blackadder will start for the All Blacks in Sunday's test against Ireland, as coach Ian Foster named as strong a side as possible for the penultimate test of 2021.
As a teammate of Blackadder at the Crusaders, Whitelock is no stranger to the loose forward's qualities as a player, and has no trouble pinpointing the reasons for his successes in the step up to test rugby.
"It's pretty easy, he's got a massive motor on him, he loves working hard," Whitelock says.
"He's had a disrupted four or five years, had a couple of injuries, niggly times. He's just putting some good games together, playing the game he's probably always had, but people are seeing it more and recognising it because he's not been on the sideline or missing selection."
Blackadder's unassuming nature and humility has won him admirers across the rugby world, including within the All Blacks' camp, Whitelock adds.
"I think he's been awesome. He's not too worried about fame and hype or anything that comes with it. He just wants to know what his job is, and goes out there and does it.
"A really great guy to have in the team. He's got a massive following with us as a team, all the boys love getting in around him and finding out what he's been up to, how hard he's been working.
"I'm sure the rest of the world's seeing that too."
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