Back in the All Blacks for his final season, flanker Sam Cane is eager to regain his place in the Test side without the added responsibility of captaincy.
Cane, who spent four months recovering from back surgery in Japan, is one of four players added to the squad for the Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship.
The squad also includes debutant fullback Ruben Love, along with Will Jordan and David Havili. With lock Scott Barrett now captaining the team, Cane is looking forward to focusing on his own performance with more time to prepare and fewer leadership duties.
Cane offered his support to Barrett upon his appointment as captain. “Scooter’s [Barrett] got a massive role, not just as All Blacks captain but also running the lineout, which is a huge responsibility in itself,” Cane said. He acknowledged the constant demands of captaincy, which leave little time to relax between training and meetings.
Cane praised Barrett’s leadership qualities, noting, “Scooter is a leader who is comfortable with who he is. He’s got some awesome support around him.” Cane also emphasized that no veteran player takes selection for granted and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the squad during the England series in New Zealand. “It helped me get back up to speed and played a big part in making me available for this team selection,” he said.
32 becomes 36 🤝🏻
A few returning faces alongside new cap Ruben Love who joins the squad for The Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship 🔥 pic.twitter.com/7FFcAnEwrL
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) July 28, 2024
The All Blacks environment, Cane noted, demands excellence and fosters motivation through competition among teammates and the high expectations of the coaches. “It’s an uplifting and awesome place to live and be each day,” he added.
Despite the nervous anticipation before the team announcement, Cane was prepared for any outcome. He was ready for a season with Bay of Plenty if not selected. His troubles began during his stint in Japan when he experienced back pain and leg pain. After undergoing surgery, which involved a four-month recovery period, he was able to return to New Zealand and train with the Chiefs during the final stages of Super Rugby Pacific. He also played club rugby for two weeks, a level he hadn’t competed at since 2011. “I enjoyed that and got exactly what I needed,” he said, referring to the varied experiences of the games.
On Friday, Cane will play for Bay of Plenty against Taranaki in an NPC pre-season game. “I’m just trying to work on getting better and improving and, hopefully, I’ll be up to Test level pretty quickly,” he stated.
Cane is excited about the new coaching group under Scott Robertson and is eager to contribute to the team. “I love the opportunity of representing my country and will do everything I can to make this next six months memorable,” he said.
This season marks a significant chapter for Sam Cane, as he aims to make his final stint with the All Blacks a memorable one.
