Chiefs star Sam Cane returns for Super Rugby Pacific semi-final against Crusaders
All Blacks captain Sam Cane will return from injury to play for the Chiefs in their Super Rugby Pacific semi-final against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday.
Cane hasn’t played for the Chiefs since he injured his knee against the Western Force three weeks ago, but will return to action from the bench at Orangetheory Stadium this weekend.
Absent from his side’s regular season win over the Fijian Drua and quarter-final victory over the Waratahs, the 30-year-old loose forward has been deemed fit enough to feature against the Crusaders by head coach Clayton McMillan.
Cane’s injury return means he takes the place of Mitchell Brown on the bench as one of four changes made to the match day team.
The only alteration made to the starting side comes at fullback, where one-test All Blacks playmaker Josh Ioane takes over from Emoni Narawa, who has been out of action this week due to illness.
Elsewhere, former All Blacks prop Atu Moli makes way in the No 18 jersey for George Dyer, while outside back Chase Tiatia fills the void left by Ioane in the reserves.
The most notable absentee from the Chiefs team is two-test All Blacks lock Josh Lord, who is continuing to recover from a knee injury, but should be available for selection should the Hamilton-based side qualify for next week’s final.
“It’s a challenge going down there but you have to walk towards that,” McMillan said in a statement of playing the Crusaders in Christchurch, a fixture the Chiefs won with a last-gasp try earlier this year.
“It’s been a journey to get to this point and we should celebrate the fact it’s all on the line and we have earned an opportunity to do something special.
“The challenge for us is to rise to the occasion, apply some pressure on the reigning champs and win enough moments to give ourselves a chance.
“We have demonstrated an ability to do that already this year. There is no magic formula, just effort, belief and execution. We know we have the squad to win if we play to our potential.”
Kick-off for Friday’s Super Rugby Pacific semi-final between the Chiefs and Crusaders is scheduled for 7:05pm NZT.
Chiefs team to play Crusaders
1. Aidan Ross
2. Samisoni Taukei’aho
3. Angus Ta’avao
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Tupou Vaa’i
6. Samipeni Finau
7. Luke Jacobson
8. Pita Gus Sowakula
9. Brad Weber (c)
10. Bryn Gatland
11. Etene Nanai-Seturo
12. Quinn Tupaea
13. Alex Nankivell
14. Jonah Lowe
15. Josh Ioane
Reserves
16. Bradley Slater
17. Ollie Norris
18. George Dyer
19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi
20. Sam Cane
21. Xavier Roe
22. Rameka Poihipi
23. Chase Tiatia
Comments on RugbyPass
Confirmed conclusively that 1. the Chiefs are a one man band 2. DMac is THE vital cog for Robertsons success with the ABs.
1 Go to commentsWrong again Nick! Shoch horror….. This article aged very quickly didnt it.
80 Go to commentsFunny how between 2008-2018 the crusaders did not win the majority of titles… it was spread evenly amongst NZ.
80 Go to commentsThe same might be happening in NZ soon. What is the point of changing the setup to englands Championship?
3 Go to commentsSack the coach.
4 Go to commentsDon’t worry about the Crusaders they have some great talent coming through.
1 Go to commentsThe Crusaders terminally ill team missing 8-9 projected starters at the beginning of the season manhandle a Chiefs team missing just DMac.
80 Go to commentsBig difference from the Crusaders last night. Hotham and McNicoll were sparks but everyone seemed dialed in. Young lock Hannah has no stop and Kellow deserves more game time based on his performance. Being captain seemed to lift Christie’s game and with Strange running the lineout there was a big improvement from Bell (including his brilliant individual try). Good to see Reihana running freely and making a solid contribution from the bench. In the absence of Burke, he makes that backline more potent. Also, good to see Aumua with more of a role. If they can back this up, they could move up the table as some of their “names” return (Barrett, Blackadder, Burke, Taylor, Williams, etc).
10 Go to commentsI think this is unduly harsh. I agree that we must hold them to high standards and that is what they produced in the second half against Italy with 14 men in their first run out for nearly 6 months trying to play an expanded game. Admittedly, the first half was at best disjointed but they worked it out sufficiently to blow Italy out of the water. No other team appears to be able to live with them over 80 minutes at the moment and they still have a huge amount of improvement to make. Their match in France will be the next acid test. That is the next real yardstick.
1 Go to commentsNot sure 700k is worth it. He’ll be coming on for the Hail Mary plays. Cannon fodder.
10 Go to commentsBest situation in the world for the potential of his success in the NFL. Cutthroat, we’ll yeah little buddy, that’s one of the reasons why, at least in the States, it is by far and away the best sports draw. The point is: It’s not only that he’d have Mahomes as his QB, and all the T. Kelce blocking bullshit needs to stop (he’s not a prototypical blocking TE ya numb nuts), it’s that he will have arguably one of the greatest football minds in Andy Reid scheming for him. In the NFL, the most important thing is situation. If the ignoramus Jets signed him, then he’d be screwed from go.
10 Go to commentsWe’re building a bridge but can't agree where the river is.
3 Go to commentsfirst no arms shoulder or helmet tackle into his rib cage is going to be so very painful even to watch. go back to RU mate.
10 Go to commentsBulls by 5. Plus another 50.
4 Go to commentsJohan Goosen avatar. Cute. Surely someone at RP knows how to do a google image search?
4 Go to commentsCan’t these games play a little earlier? Asking for a friend.
4 Go to commentsIt’s impressive that we can see huge stadiums with attendance in the 40 000 to 50 000 region. It shows how popular this competition is becoming. What is even more impressive is the massive growth in broadcast viewership. The URC is one of the two best leagues in the World, the other being the Top14.
7 Go to commentsChristie is not Sottish, like the majority of the Scotland team.
2 Go to commentsHold the phone, decline over-rated. Is it a one game, dead cat bounce or the real thing? Has the Penney dropped? Stay tuned.
80 Go to commentsTotally deserved win for the Crusaders Far smarter than the Chiefs who seem to be avoiding the basics when it matters Hotham showed them what was missing and Hannah seems a real find - a tad light but that can be fixed over time
10 Go to comments