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Sam Cane given all clear after neck injury scare against the Hurricanes
Liam Napier/NZ Herald
Dane Coles and Jordie Barrett rushed to check in on their prone mate but Warren Gatland moved to allay fears All Blacks captain Sam Cane may have been seriously injured against the Hurricanes.
Chiefs captain Cane took a heavy knock colliding with Jordie Barrett’s knee 26 minutes into his side’s 31-18 defeat in Wellington.
The incident left Cane prone on the turf and there was immediate concern from Barrett and nearby Coles before trainers and medics arrived.
While he regained consciousness and eventually walked from the field, Cane did not return and will now face return-to-play testing measures.
“I’ve got a close relationship with Sammy and he didn’t look too good,” Hurricanes captain Coles said.
“I caught up with him after the game and he seems stable to be fair. You’ve got to feel for the fella, it’s a tough gig with a few of those. We wish him all the best with recovery and getting well.”
Concern for Cane stems from the neck fracture he suffered in South Africa playing for the All Blacks that almost ended his career two years ago.
With his leading defensive presence Cane is a naturally abrasive player who repeatedly puts himself in compromising positions.
Gatland, however, cleared Cane of major damage to his neck area on this occasion, and with the Chiefs finishing their 0-8 season one week early for the bye, the newly-appointed national captain has three weeks to recover for the North versus South match on August 29 at Eden Park.
“He was a loss for us. He’s had a knock, I don’t think it was anything to do with his neck,” Gatland said.
“He’s lined Jordie up, and he’s come down and hit him. It looks like it’s a concussion that he’ll go through. Talking to him in the changing rooms he seems okay. He can remember what happened, so it’s not like he can’t recall the incident, so he’ll need to go through the return-to-play protocols.”
This article first appeared on the New Zealand Herald and is republished with permission here.
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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
45 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.
45 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
45 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 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
45 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.
45 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.
45 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.
45 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