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'Progressing well': All Blacks captain Sam Cane gives injury update
Sam Cane has indicated he may be back playing by the time the All Blacks embark on their end-of-year tour of the United States and Europe.
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The All Blacks captain has been sidelined since March after he suffered a pectoral injury while playing for the Chiefs against the Blues in a Super Rugby Aotearoa match.
After almost five months of no action, the 29-year-old took to social media on Thursday to provide an update on his recovery status.
“Thought it was about time I gave an update as to where I’m at in my return to play journey,” Cane wrote in an Instagram post.
“Four months post shoulder reconstruction and pectoral reattachment, have finally got full range of movement so am now focusing on building back strength and function. Progressing well and aiming to be back playing in roughly two months’ time.”
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A return to play in two months would coincide with the All Blacks’ northern hemisphere tour, which is scheduled to kick-off against the USA Eagles at Washington DC on October 23.
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Ian Foster’s side will then play successive tests against Wales in Cardiff on October 30, Italy in Rome on November 6, Ireland in Dublin on November 13 and France in Paris on November 20.
However, Foster has previously indicated that Cane could return to action via the NPC, which runs through until mid-October.
The Premiership and Championship finals are scheduled to take place on the same weekend that the All Blacks play the United States, with the semi-finals to be played the weekend beforehand.
Assuming Cane’s provincial side, Bay of Plenty, fail to make the Premiership play-offs, he may only have one or two matches, against Wellington and Counties Manukau, to earn some game time within his two-month recovery timeframe.
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If he isn’t able to gain exposure at provincial level before his return to the All Blacks, Cane might have to make-do with comeback fixtures against lower-level test nations such as the USA and Italy.
The added complication of Covid-19 might also thwart any chance of Cane playing provincial rugby, as the All Blacks face the prospect of potentially playing their last 2021 test on home soil this weekend.
All Blacks and Chiefs star Damian McKenzie has reportedly signed a deal with Japanese club Tokyo Sungoliath that will see him miss the 2022 Super Rugby season. #AllBlacks #SuperRugby #JapanRugbyLeagueOne #Chiefs #TokyoSungoliath https://t.co/NzX4fYRY5B
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 13, 2021
Saturday’s clash against the Wallabies at Eden Park in Auckland will be followed by another Bledisloe Cup match in Perth on August 28.
A pause in the trans-Tasman travel bubble means the All Blacks may not return to New Zealand before their end-of-year tour due to quarantine restrictions.
According to the New Zealand Herald, New Zealand Rugby has an agreement with its players that they will only quarantine once this year, which will come following the end-of-year tour.
That means Rugby Championship matches against Argentina, which were initially scheduled to be held in Auckland and Wellington, will now be played in Australia, while tests against the Springboks in Auckland and Dunedin remain up in the air.
Should the bubble re-open in mid-September, those clashes against South Africa at Eden Park and Forsyth Barr Stadium will go ahead as planned, but the uncertainty of the virus could force the All Blacks abroad for up to three months.
Comments on RugbyPass
great article! I wonder whether we will we see Ireland adopt the Nienaber blitz? All the teams who have tried it so far (SA included) have gone through significant teething problems in the first season; Ireland could possibly be in the unique position of being able to switch to a hard blitz in season 2 of a world cup cycle and already have so many players used to the system that it can be implemented seamlessly.
6 Go to commentsThey probably left another 20 on the field to be fair. Also - the officiating was… ordinary.
1 Go to commentsblackadder isnt a key player at all you cant say hes been the best player or a key all black when hes injured every week
2 Go to commentsThat loss to the Blues still stings! The Reds have fallen short in 4 of the 6 games decided by 7 points or fewer. Are they not fit enough to close out the close games or are there tactical issues when games go down to the wire? The pleasing thing is no Australian side can better the Reds record of 3 wins from 5 against Kiwi sides but the Brumbies can match it. Les Kiss has instilled a belief in the Reds that they can match it with all the New Zealand sides.
44 Go to commentsA potential 5th star for Leinster and redemption adter losing 2 tight finals against La Rochelle against Toulouse and the chance for Jacques Nienaber to have some success without Rassie Erasmus running the show.
6 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and welcome back 😁 Vulavalu does look better this year, and about time. I suspect Schmidt will knock the hubris out of him. That one handed put down was so embarrassing. Mind you, I had thought Kiss would deal with that. Leaving aside the different games and skills, in NRL he had a very good (but no bullshit) type of coach in Bellamy, something he hasn't had in Union until this year. Bellamy would have roasted him unmercifully for an unprofessional put down.
44 Go to commentsYou’d think the first step would be taking responsibility for the stupid sh*t you did and to stop blaming other people. Does he seriously think that people believe him when he says it just magically got into his system without him knowing anything about it? You’re gonna notice if you’re on the juice, bruh.
2 Go to commentsI watch the Reds now, and many of their players, and think back to watching London Irish in their last two years under Michael Kiss. I recall Nick Phipps looking a very competent scrumhalf, Rob Simmons a lynch pin in the lineouts. Both men writen off by many on the rugby sites. There is no question in my mind that Kiss has a very different touch to any coach the Reds have had in years. It will take time, but this team could develop into a very good team, hard to beat by any one down here in the SH. You highlight two players especially, Nick. Vunivalu and Paisami are thriving this year, especially the latter. And so many others. The now heavier Fraser McReight, his great mate Harry Wilson, and the “Fardy” man, Liam Wright. That is only three, ut in reality every player is acroos the whole squad is the better for the new regime.
44 Go to commentsRecord Score Downloading…………..
1 Go to commentsWonderful insightful interview with Crusader Johnny McNicoll. He was exceptional in the wins over the Chiefs and Rebels and I am sure he will get a contract again for 2025. He was an excitement machine for Canterbury and the Crusaders in 2011-16 and he still is. He has added to the attack particularly. Had a fine career with Wales in the intervening years.
1 Go to commentsAmazing what decent coaching can do! I always felt Folau never improved much as a player and never had a great coach using his talents. Suli seems different at qld this year.
44 Go to commentsI’m sick to death of waiting 3 years for league players to become half decent. It cripples Australian rugby in the meantime. The Reds actually looked half competent without Vunivalu not starting last week. He’s just a liability of errors. Paisami is looking better than he has in previous years but I’d have Kerevi back in a flash. A kiwi wont tho …...
44 Go to commentsExcellent analysis Nick as we have come to expect. I was not really aware that NFL strategies have been adopted by rugby teams, especially in defence. One point I would make is that the Northhampton attacking player on the end of the chain in the video examples has not maintained the correct depth to be effective. In the footage shown the outside player is too flat to make the best of the opportunity his inside players have provided. In each case they have to reduce speed and turn their body backwards to secure the ball, losing all momentum and giving the impressive scrambling defence the chance to shut down the threat.
6 Go to commentsMorning, John. Do you think that it may be a good idea to rest both teams from the Madrid comp leading in to the Olympics
2 Go to comments« I am preparing myself for much more, something much bigger. I’m focussing on the next cycle, » You don’t say…
2 Go to commentsGeez plenty of time to come right before test season starts. Dont panic mr Mannering!!!!!
2 Go to commentsGreat read Nick. The Reds really have been great to watch this year, and the improvement of not only the players you mention, but the squad in general has been obvious. The Reds 10/12 play making axis is a nice counterpoint to the 10/15 partnership at the Brumbies and Rebels. If Schmidt was to pick say, Lolesio, Paisami and Wright / Kellaway, would this be too many play makers? I notice in a lot of those clips Tim Ryan playing across the field in support of Vunivalu. Is this a feature of Kiss’s structure?
44 Go to commentsSo sad, god rest him. Too young to be gone. RIP
2 Go to commentsRIP big man 🙏
2 Go to commentsThe GB coach. “Just because we don’t get together as much as other teams we don’t use that as an excuse for performances when we don’t hit the mark”. Why mention it at all then?
1 Go to comments