Ex-All Blacks would not have captain Sam Cane starting at openside

All Blacks captain Sam Cane is one of the first names picked in the starting XV under head coach Ian Foster, but three ex-All Blacks would have a different openside in the No 7 jersey if they were selecting the team.

Former All Blacks Sir John Kirwan, Jeff Wilson and Mils Muliaina all picked Blues captain Dalton Papalii as their preferred All Black openside on this week’s episode of The Breakdown when discussing the make up of the loose forwards in the All Blacks.

All three had Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea pencilled in at No 8, while they all picked different blindside flankers at No 6. Muliaina was the only one to pick Cane in his starting side, albeit in a new position at No 6.

The Breakdown | Sky Sport NZ | Episode 15

The Breakdown | Sky Sport NZ | Episode 15

“I’ve left him there because I think Papalii is out-and-out the in form seven,” Muliaina explained of the selections.

“So don’t move him out of position, or number change and move him in to No 6. I want him there [at openside].

“Sam Cane comes in there [at No 6] for a reason, and that is, turnover ball. He is 10th in the competition at turnover ball, I want him there for that. Papalii isn’t in the top 20 [for turnovers], but he does feature in running metres, tackles.

“He’s number one or two in terms of the number of tackles he makes, so there is a balance in terms of that.

“Ardie Savea, carry metres and post-contact metres as well, so there is a rounded game there.”

Wilson wasn’t prepared to put Cane at blindside, instead calling on Chiefs lock Tupou Vaa’i to provide the size that is needed across the back row.

As a hybrid lock-blindside, Vaa’i adds a legitimate jumping option into the mix. Wilson believed that Vaa’i was a more superior candidate for that role than Crusaders lock Scott Barrett, who has been tried there for the All Blacks in the past.

“Sam Cane didn’t feature on my list, but he’s well and truly in my squad,” Wilson told The Breakdown.

“I am purely going on that he is an out-and-out No 7 for me, at international level I know what is going to give us.

“Dalton Papalii has delivered for the last 12 months for the Blues and the All Blacks, he needs an opportunity to see whether or not he can take it to the next level.

“That’s why I’ve got him in that position. If he’s not available, Sam Cane is starting for me.

“I’m looking at a different balance with Tupou Vaa’i at blindside flanker. I want size. I want someone who is going to bring us a different type of mentality at blindside flanker, similar to Shannon Frizell.

“I want a one-two punch in that position. I don’t believe Scott Barrett gives us that now. Akira Ioane has still got work to do to get back to where he showed he can be.”

However, Kirwan believed Ioane deserved to hold onto the role as the incumbent in the position from 2021. Ioane has returned from injury in the latter stages of Super Rugby Pacific and has shown damaging form against the Australian sides.

Kirwan said he possesses the kind of “X-factor” that can unlock the All Blacks’ attacking potential in partnership with Savea, who is another strong carrier of the ball.

“I’ve always liked loose forwards with balance. What we get with Akira is actually that out-and-out X-factor. He can make a difference,” Kirwan said.

“He’s a current incumbent at No 6. I think the balance with him and Ardie, who gives us that ability to have turnover but also carry the ball.

“I just think, we want to play an expansive game, we want to be really threatening in our attack, I would like to see that mix. Dalton Papalii, Akira Ioane and Ardie Savea. It’s a great mix.”