'He is one of the hardest hitters out there' - The players explain what fans don't get about Sam Cane's game
Under fire All Blacks captain Sam Cane has received a glowing endorsement from two current Super Rugby players, with Blues hooker James Parsons and Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall explaining what fans aren’t able to see from the Chiefs flanker.
“I suppose for me, he’s hugely respected,” Blues hooker James Parsons said on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“It probably takes for you to get hit by him, to know how good he is.
“He is one of the hardest hitters out there, but I think one of the reasons he’s so respected is he’s such a team-first man.
“He’s not looking for the highlight packages or anything, it is all about what is going to be best for his team going forward. He will always put himself in those positions.
Aside from being able to bring dominant hits to a defence, which Bryn Hall described as being a confidence lifter for the side, it’s the commitments to the greater cause that make him an excellent leader.
“An example against us [the Blues], he made one tackle on Gerard Cowley and got a stinger and was down for about 2 minutes, and then play came back his way and he stood up and made another tackle with the exact same shoulder,” Parsons recalled.
“It’s those sorts of efforts that are always going to be appreciated by players so much more than highlight plays.
“Because you know when someone is hurt, they are going to turn up for you and have your inside and back you up. That’s someone you want to follow.”
Parsons explained that the pressure being heaped on Cane as All Blacks captain is nothing different, with previous captains going through it at various points in their tenures.
“It comes with the job. Richie McCaw had it going into the 2015 World Cup, Kieran Read had it a number of times.
“It probably doesn’t help [the captaincy] coinciding with the Chiefs not going so well. But there is no doubt in the All Blacks’ selectors minds that he is the best man for the job.
“I’d back that fully as well. He’s a great player, but a great man as well and those are the people you want to play alongside.”
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Byrn Hall echoed Parsons sentiment stating that he had no issues with Sam Cane being selected as All Black captain.
“For me, there is no qualms about it, he is a great player and well-respected, he’ll continue to get better when he gets in the All Blacks camp and later this year,” Hall said.
Cane’s Super Rugby Aotearoa stats show that he has made the third-most tackles in the competition, behind fellow open sides Dalton Papalii and Dillon Hunt, despite sitting out the opening two rounds.
He is making dominant tackles at a solid rate of 19%, but that sits below other loose forwards Ardie Savea (31%), Mitch Brown (28%), Papalii (25%), Du’Plessis Kirifi (25%), and Tom Christie (25%).
Although, Cane did produce a monster game against the Crusaders over the weekend, making a game-high 24 tackles while winning three turnovers himself.
Parsons explained what having an enforcer like Cane dishing out dominant hits does for your defence.
“Defence is all about getting the ball back,” he said.
“Teams don’t want to overplay these days, so if you get a dominant hit early in the defensive set, more than likely you are going to get the ball back via kick or a turnover at the breakdown.
“Although he might not get the plaudits for that turnover, he’s created that opportunity for a Lachlan Boshier or a Mitch Karpik or whoever else, to get over the ball and get the ball back.
“That’s what you need in a game of rugby. So many times, time and time again, he’ll be the guy that’s made the tackle that allows those turnover opportunities.”
Listen to the full episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod below
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments