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Sam Cane's generous words for David Pocock

By Online Editors
Sam Cane

While the return of David Pocock to Test rugby remains uncertain, All Blacks flanker Sam Cane believes the Wallabies superstar will savour every moment when he finally gets back on the field.

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Pocock hasn’t played since March due to a problematic calf injury and while that has Wallabies fans wringing their hands ahead of this year’s World Cup in Japan, it’s nothing compared to Cane’s own injury battle.

The 27-year-old broke his neck playing in an All Blacks Test against South Africa in Pretoria last October, with the injury career-threatening.

Cane spent seven months on the sidelines before returning to Super Rugby in May and after taking on Argentina last month, is set to face the Wallabies in Perth in their Rugby Championship/Bledisloe Cup clash on Saturday night.

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Cane said Pocock would have a new appreciation for playing for his country after so long out.

“Rugby is a team sport until you get injured and then it feels like you’re chipping away on your own for a long time,” Cane said.

“During those times there’s little steps and goals and my goal was to get back to wearing the black jersey and David, the gold jumper.

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“Should he get that opportunity I’m sure he will savour it more because of all the hard work and steps he has to take to get there.”

The Chiefs ace says once the physical work is done the challenge to return to the top level becomes mental.

He admitted to having some doubts before his first Super Rugby match.

“It’s about your ability to push that to one side,” Cane said.

“You’re always going to have those little voices in one area of your brain telling you to be careful or a little bit hesitant but you can’t let them be too overpowering.

“You need to let your other part of your brain say, ‘You’ve done the work – you’re alright and rip in’.”

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The All Blacks are convinced that Pocock will play on Saturday although talk around the Wallabies camp is that he will be kept on ice.

Whenever he does play, Cane said that after 76 Tests Pocock would shine.

“I expect him to come back and be right in the thick of things,” he said.

“Your match fitness is normally not quite where you want it to be but because you’ve been in those situations before you can just push on through and a guy like David Pocock, there’s not a big margin between his best and worst games.”

– AAP

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Trevor 2 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 6 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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