Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Robertson on why Sam Cane keeps starting for the All Blacks

Sam Cane of the All Blacks. Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Former captain Sam Cane has been named at openside in Scott Robertson’s side to take on the Wallabies in an unchanged back row from the second Test against South Africa.

ADVERTISEMENT

The 32-year-old trained with the All Blacks during the July series against England but didn’t make his international comeback until the start of the Rugby Championship against Argentina, appearing off the bench.

Cane has been handed two starts since, in both Tests against the Springboks and will line up for his third straight against the Wallabies.

Video Spacer
Video Spacer

On whether the selection is form-based, head coach Scott Robertson said the leadership and experience he brings to the team was also a factor.

“It’s a bit of that [form], his experience,” Robertson said.

“I think the value of his experience in and off the field, his ability to get high tackle counts and be really accurate, soak the opposition ball up has been a big factor for us.”

Cane’s resurgence has meant Blues flanker Dalton Papali’i has rarely been seen, with the reserve bench spot used by the likes of Luke Jacobson and Samipeni Finau. Jacobson again will take the No 20 jersey against Australia.

Although with Cane having already announced his retirement from Test rugby at the end of the year, Robertson is conscious of the fact that this is a “swan song” for the ex-captain.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Look, we’re mindful, you know, this is a swan song. You know, when does the song stop. Can I say that? We have those conversations,” he said.

“But he’s in good form, and it’s just what we need. He’s got a good balance for us, and he’s great for for Scott Barrett and for Ardie and the team so and he’s playing well.”

At some point the All Blacks will have to look to the No 7 of the future and with young gun Wallace Sititi a more natural No 8, a move for Ardie Savea to openside has been suggested.

Robertson said that the coaching group have had discussions around such a plan, but that they have picked an experienced side out of “respect for Australia”.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We considered that,” Robertson said of the back row re-shuffle, “We know Ardie can play seven, and Wallace has played a lot at eight.

“Other than the scrums, its just playing footy really in a lot of ways.  He has been considered but for this test, you know, we’ve picked an experienced group, a group that’s played recently together, and played Bledisloe Cup matches.

“And it’s a sign of respect to the Aussies, because we know they’ll come in and the score the last week is irrelevant.”

 

ADVERTISEMENT

Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

Argentina v France | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Men's Match Highlights

New Zealand v Australia | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Women's Match Highlights

Tokyo Sungoliath vs Shizuoka BlueRevs | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Reds vs Force | Super Rugby W 2025 | Full Match Replay

The Rise of Kenya | The Report

New Zealand in Hong Kong | Brady Rush | Sevens Wonders | Episode 4

The Fixture: How This Rugby Rivalry Has Lasted 59 Years

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

19 Comments
J
JK 196 days ago

The obvious answer is the correct answer - it's 'take your grandpa to work' season...

B
Bull Shark 197 days ago

because out of the whole of New Zealand, they can’t find anyone better?

S
Steve P 197 days ago

Just asking a question, but you've got a 7 playing at 8, an 8 playing at 6...? Why persist with players out of position at test level?

M
MattJH 198 days ago

I think they should drop Dalton Papali’i for the end of year tour and take Peter Lakai instead to apprentice under Cane.

That way, Pete learns from the best and Dalton will get a shock and sort his game out.

A
Andrew Nichols 199 days ago

Because until he moves on and Razor chjoses a new boy or shifts Ardie back, hes the best we have

J
Jacque 199 days ago

"Sam Cane" will retire after this season. DOES NOT MAKE SENSE to keep playing him. He WON't be there again. Like EVER?

L
LB 198 days ago

Still helpful to transition and mentor other players. Coaches have also been experimenting with the loosies combination I think he's shown to the coaches that you need a workhorse type player like him in the loose mix somewhere if you want to use power loosies like savea, sititi etc. Not sure yet who will fill that role Blackadder probably plays most similar to him in the current squad

G
Gl99 199 days ago

And yet Boks keep selecting players until their very end (see Leroux, Eben, Malherbe, etc etc)

J
JW 199 days ago

I wonder if that's a suggestion if he can get to 100 caps in time to not be asked to come of the EOYT? JRLO will be in full swing in Nov I think?


Otherwise you hope theres more insight than just playing these guys while in form, like Beauden Barrett, until theyre not in form again.

L
LB 198 days ago

I think Wellington test would be the 100th game. With Roigard returning, I wonder if the Wellington game will also be a last swansong for Perenara at his home ground

T
TO 199 days ago

Sam Cane's combo with Ardie is the reason why he's still there. They were the difference for us in the Bok tests but they can't do it all. He deserves his swansong but Sititi should be playing eight as much as possible leading into the Northern tests with Cane to six. It's not a long term fix but it's the best in form trio we've got, unless they get brave and try Vaa'i or Scooter there. Blackadder's best place is cover from the bench.

J
JW 199 days ago

Yep, exactly, they need a real cruncher at six (if no Cane at seven) and a cleaner, someone ready to graft. Who better than a lock? I think it would take a bit of pressure off a captain if it was Scott to move there rather than Vaa'i. I also think Scott probably has more mobility potential than Vaa'i.


Barretts graft added to the loosies allows you to play Ardie at seven. Dalton might be a better choice against physical sides with Ardie finishing? Dont' mind EB covering 7 though.

P
PC 199 days ago

Why? The ABs are a product. When your product is inferior you lose your customers. Every time they have their product on display it must perform so you put your best available team on the field. He might be a s%^t macaw but he's still a good player. The rwc send off was a tough call and he should not be punished further for it. He was not sanctioned beyond that game. His game against Ireland and the same rwc got us to that final. There is plenty of time to transition later.

J
JW 199 days ago

The idea is that you are not creating the best 'product' by putting you're best team out there week after week. It's a clear comparison to Rassie's style I'm sure I don't need to exaplain.

C
CR 199 days ago

Strange one. Putting more caps into someone who isn’t in the future plan. Genuinely mind boggling. Also a red card risk with his technique

C
CO 199 days ago

Exactly, huge Crusaders bias coming through. Dalton was solid and had played all season and doesn't give away red cards and will only get better. Sevu Reece is previously discarded, short and terrible under the high ball but somehow Mark Telea isn't any longer good enough to be New Zealands best right winger and has now dropped below not one but two Crusaders. Some really dumb selecting with Jordan not good enough against the best physical teams. Saves his worst performances against the Boks.


As for the selecting it's a constant rehash of players we have known for a decade. Why isn't Josh Lord getting minutes against the woeful Wallabies?


Someone knock on Razors war room and tell him he needs to cap about fifty new Allblacks so he can build depth. Lakai, AK Lam, Payton Spencer, Zarn Sullivan, locks, props.


Ardies a seven, get younger guys running hard off the back rather than the 'leg drive and post contact metres' of a 31 year old that gets himself isolated and will be in his mid thirties in 2027 and three years of playing for NZ's worst rugby franchise

F
Forward pass 199 days ago

I guess Foster should have dropped all those longterm stars that played the WC final. Lets face it they wernt the future......... 1 red card in 98 tests. And that was a fake TMO BS card too.

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

R
RashmiRamesh 31 minutes ago
Waratahs turn to 'tough bugger' for captaincy with more history on the line

I was introduced to crypto by my son a few years ago, I invested in USDT and BTC using Binance, I have several accounts including personal bank accounts so I was unable to keep up with all of them and ended up forgetting my secret codes used in accessing the account, I asked my son to help me since he had introduced me Crypto, unfortunately he gave me bad news that I had lost my investment, I was so heartbroken considering I had invested my life saving of $70,700, I narrated my ordeal to one of my friends who happened to know someone who had a similar experience, so after I met him he directed to where he got help, he told me that LEE ULTIMATE HACKER who were able to help him with his recovery problem, I quickly contacted them to help me with my lost funds, I was a bit skeptical about it coz of what I had gone through the last few days, the frustration and anxiety was getting to me, after contacting LEE ULTIMATE HACKER one of their team members took me through the recovery process explaining on how it works and what was required from my end ,he informed me that it would take 12 hours for my funds to be recovered, I was so anxious but they assured me that all will be well and soon enough I will be able to have full control of my wallet, true to their word LEE ULTIMATE HACKER team were able to recover my wallet and I was able to access and change my log ins to my wallet, I was so happy and I couldn’t believe it I logged in and out of my account a few times just to be sure, for any lost crypto contact LEE ULTIMATE HACKER via LEEULTIMATEHACKER @ AOL . COM

telegram: LEEULTIMATE

wh@tsapp +1 (715) 314 - 9248 the solution to all your recovery problems.

0 Go to comments
C
ChristelLoewe 2 hours ago
Sean Everitt: 'People will say it’s the same old, but it’s not'

REACH OUT TO TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY FOR A GREAT JOB

WhatsApp +15617263697

Fine wine and crypto do not always blend well, especially after a few drinks. I learned this the hard way after a record harvest at my vineyard. Swirling an old Cabernet under the stars, I was a financial connoisseur, my $720,000 Bitcoin wallet aging well for future returns. But the next morning, with a hangover as intense as my Merlion, I realized I'd forgotten my wallet password. Even worse, my recovery phrase, which I'd written down in my wine cellar notebook, had vanished. My eager new assistant had tidied up, mistaking my scribbled security notes for wine tasting spillage, and donated the entire book to the recycling gods. I dove into the garbage cans like a desperate sommelier searching for a quality grape but came up with broken dreams and soggy cardboard. Panic set in faster than cork taint. I faced the bitter truth: my digital fortune was bottled up tighter than a corked bottle with no opener. I sank into denial, questioning whether my future vineyard expansion would now be reduced to selling boxed wine. I panicked, pored over industry publications, and came across a wine industry newsletter that mentioned Tech Cyber Force Recovery. Their slogan, something playful about "decanting lost crypto," seemed like a sign from God. I contacted them, half-expecting snobbery or skepticism. What I received instead were tech wizards who tackled my case with humor and precision. Their team labored over my case like veteran sommeliers dissecting terroir. They painstakingly reconstructed transaction flows, timestamp records, and subtle wallet behavior. It was as if I was watching wine connoisseurs sniff out hints of blackcurrant and oak, but with algorithms and blockchain forensics. Each day, they provided updates with the finesse of tasting notes. “We’re detecting progress, notes of potential access, hints of password recovery on the finish.” Their creativity lightened my anxiety, and ten days later, they uncorked my digital vault. When I saw my Bitcoin balance restored, I nearly opened a bottle of my best vintage at 9 AM. My assistant and I shared a hearty laugh; he's still working for me, but now he labels my ledgers with "DO NOT TOUCH" in bold. My wine business is thriving thanks to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, and I have a new rule: passwords before Pinot. Cheers to their genius!

0 Go to comments
N
Noah roman 3 hours ago
What Newcastle 'can’t legislate for' as they face fellow basement dwellers

BITCOIN RECOMMENDED EXPERT HIRE DIGITAL TECH GUARD RECOVERY SERVICES


The ink doesn't wash off, but I thought my Bitcoin was gone forever. I'd stashed $130,000 worth of crypto away to turn my tattoo parlor into a fantasy parlor—black walls, neon lights, the hum of needles mixed with classic rock music. But fate is cruelly ironic.One night, having spent an eight-hour shift etching half a snake wrapped around a dagger, I came home to find the shop robbed. Cash register emptied out, machines thrown around like playthings, and the worst of all, my phone stolen. That phone had my 2FA codes, the sacred keys to my digital riches.Panic washed over me like road rash on bare flesh. Without 2FA, my Bitcoin was more secure than a welded-shut vault. I plunged into horror. Every hour out of reach was like watching a masterpiece rot in the sun.Desperate, I griped to a client at a cover-up session. He had a Bitcoin logo stitched on his sleeve, alongside a skull laughing maniacally in a Digital hat. He leaned back in the chair, grinning like an old road captain, and said, "Brother, you need Digital Tech Guard Recovery. Those guys do magic."So, taking his tip, I did call them up. From the very first phone call, they were sharper than a new needle. They were in the business—talking carrier records, blockchain synchronization, and security breaches like old truckers swapping stories of carburetor war battles and close calls.They labored fast. Five days went by before I got the call. "We got it," the technician said. My heart was revving like a helicopter engine. My Bitcoin was once more in my hands, safe and sound.The Digitals did not cease. They guided me through backups, multi-device login, and offline wallets. "One key in your pocket, another in the wind," they said. Biker street smarts meets crypto security.Now, my studio is thriving. That neon sign? It glows brighter than ever. And on my forearm? A new tattoo: a Digital hat, with flames and Bitcoin logos surrounding it. A reminder that in this world, both on the road and on the internet, it's not about not falling, it's about knowing who you can call to pick you up. Digital Tech Guard Recovery: They're by your side, even when the ride gets rocky

WhatsApp: +1 (443) 859 - 2886   Email @ digitaltechguard.com Telegram: digitaltechguard.com   Website link: digitaltechguard.com

0 Go to comments
C
ChristelLoewe 5 hours ago
Scarlets punish ill disciplined Ospreys to keep play-off hopes alive

REACH OUT TO TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY FOR A GREAT JOB

WhatsApp +15617263697

Fine wine and crypto do not always blend well, especially after a few drinks. I learned this the hard way after a record harvest at my vineyard. Swirling an old Cabernet under the stars, I was a financial connoisseur, my $720,000 Bitcoin wallet aging well for future returns. But the next morning, with a hangover as intense as my Merlion, I realized I'd forgotten my wallet password. Even worse, my recovery phrase, which I'd written down in my wine cellar notebook, had vanished. My eager new assistant had tidied up, mistaking my scribbled security notes for wine tasting spillage, and donated the entire book to the recycling gods. I dove into the garbage cans like a desperate sommelier searching for a quality grape but came up with broken dreams and soggy cardboard. Panic set in faster than cork taint. I faced the bitter truth: my digital fortune was bottled up tighter than a corked bottle with no opener. I sank into denial, questioning whether my future vineyard expansion would now be reduced to selling boxed wine. I panicked, pored over industry publications, and came across a wine industry newsletter that mentioned Tech Cyber Force Recovery. Their slogan, something playful about "decanting lost crypto," seemed like a sign from God. I contacted them, half-expecting snobbery or skepticism. What I received instead were tech wizards who tackled my case with humor and precision. Their team labored over my case like veteran sommeliers dissecting terroir. They painstakingly reconstructed transaction flows, timestamp records, and subtle wallet behavior. It was as if I was watching wine connoisseurs sniff out hints of blackcurrant and oak, but with algorithms and blockchain forensics. Each day, they provided updates with the finesse of tasting notes. “We’re detecting progress, notes of potential access, hints of password recovery on the finish.” Their creativity lightened my anxiety, and ten days later, they uncorked my digital vault. When I saw my Bitcoin balance restored, I nearly opened a bottle of my best vintage at 9 AM. My assistant and I shared a hearty laugh; he's still working for me, but now he labels my ledgers with "DO NOT TOUCH" in bold. My wine business is thriving thanks to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, and I have a new rule: passwords before Pinot. Cheers to their genius!

1 Go to comments
C
ChristelLoewe 6 hours ago
Blues lose All Black for season ahead of Hurricanes derby

REACH OUT TO TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY FOR A GREAT JOB

WhatsApp +15617263697

Fine wine and crypto do not always blend well, especially after a few drinks. I learned this the hard way after a record harvest at my vineyard. Swirling an old Cabernet under the stars, I was a financial connoisseur, my $720,000 Bitcoin wallet aging well for future returns. But the next morning, with a hangover as intense as my Merlion, I realized I'd forgotten my wallet password. Even worse, my recovery phrase, which I'd written down in my wine cellar notebook, had vanished. My eager new assistant had tidied up, mistaking my scribbled security notes for wine tasting spillage, and donated the entire book to the recycling gods. I dove into the garbage cans like a desperate sommelier searching for a quality grape but came up with broken dreams and soggy cardboard. Panic set in faster than cork taint. I faced the bitter truth: my digital fortune was bottled up tighter than a corked bottle with no opener. I sank into denial, questioning whether my future vineyard expansion would now be reduced to selling boxed wine. I panicked, pored over industry publications, and came across a wine industry newsletter that mentioned Tech Cyber Force Recovery. Their slogan, something playful about "decanting lost crypto," seemed like a sign from God. I contacted them, half-expecting snobbery or skepticism. What I received instead were tech wizards who tackled my case with humor and precision. Their team labored over my case like veteran sommeliers dissecting terroir. They painstakingly reconstructed transaction flows, timestamp records, and subtle wallet behavior. It was as if I was watching wine connoisseurs sniff out hints of blackcurrant and oak, but with algorithms and blockchain forensics. Each day, they provided updates with the finesse of tasting notes. “We’re detecting progress, notes of potential access, hints of password recovery on the finish.” Their creativity lightened my anxiety, and ten days later, they uncorked my digital vault. When I saw my Bitcoin balance restored, I nearly opened a bottle of my best vintage at 9 AM. My assistant and I shared a hearty laugh; he's still working for me, but now he labels my ledgers with "DO NOT TOUCH" in bold. My wine business is thriving thanks to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, and I have a new rule: passwords before Pinot. Cheers to their genius!

3 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Sharks swing axe on Boks in much-changed Challenge Cup team for Lyon Sharks swing axe on Boks in much-changed Challenge Cup
Search