Sam Cane silences the critics with statement performance over Crusaders upstart back row
Chiefs and All Blacks captain Sam Cane has come under fire in 2020 for his failure to stamp his mark in Super Rugby Aotearoa when other loose forwards have been standout performers.
The questions have circled over his early selection as All Black captain, with suggestions that Ian Foster would then have to work around the selection of Cane with the other in form flankers missing out. Lachlan Boshier, Hoskins Sotutu, Dalton Papalii, Cullen Grace, Tom Christie and Du’Plessis Kirifi have all put their hands up to be part of the All Blacks back row.
Against the Crusaders in Hamilton with the Chiefs desperate to end a seven game losing streak, Cane put in an enormous effort, making 24 of 27 tackles and winning three turnovers in a monster effort that showed how industrious his work rate can be.
The impressive performance was aided by the in form Lachlan Boshier at blindside, who added two more turnovers and completed 11 from 12 tackles.
The Chiefs back row dominated the Crusaders loose forwards in the turnover battle, with the trio of Sione Havili, Tom Christie and Tom Sanders failing to register a single turnover.
So many things to pick out of an awesome game, but this bit of defensive work from Sam Cane sums up 'reading the game' perfectly! I'm judging that he knew the play! #CHIvCRU pic.twitter.com/P4aoFlLD4G
— Geraint Davies (@daviesGDD) August 1, 2020
Another 19 tackles from Sam Cane tonight. #captainmaterial #CHIvCRU
— Tom Vinicombe (@TomVinicombe) August 1, 2020
I'd love to see Sam Cane's tackle count. He has been busy shame
— Stay home, save lives (@Scuddy9nine) August 1, 2020
Sam Cane will make a great All Blacks captain.
— Edgar (@omolloed) August 1, 2020
Cane’s defensive performance was another impressive display against the Crusaders adding to his display in Christchurch earlier in the year which also impressed fans.
In last week’s encounter with the Blues, Cane appeared to injure his shoulder but would not let that get in the way. He made two tackles in a row before play stopped to get treatment. In the end, he finished with another 18 tackles and was labelled a ‘warrior’ for his efforts.
Still have 6 minutes to watch, but the two steals by Sam Cane inside the 22 up six just now are two of the best defensive plays I’ve ever seen. #CHIvCRU
— Rugby North America (@rugbyinamerica) June 2, 2019
Sam Cane is on ??
Audacious game of ruggas ? ??
— Brendon Shields (@Brendon_Shields) June 1, 2019
Sam Cane… absolute warrior #BLUvCHI
— Luke Robinson (@whakataneluke) July 26, 2020
Sam Cane is one tough hombre #BLUvCHI
— Christian Hansen (@cpHansen3) July 26, 2020
Although the Chiefs back row stepped up against the Crusaders, the side fell to their eighth straight loss on the back of a contentious refereeing decision with one point between the sides.
A loose pass bounced fortuitously for Sevu Reece in the lead up to his try, which appeared to be a knock-on. The decision put the Crusaders up by eight points with a quarter of the game to go.
Despite many fans still being unconvinced over Cane’s appointment as All Black captain, he does have the respect of his peers, winning the most votes in a player pool conducted by the Country Sports Breakfast radio show hosted by Sam Casey.
Sam Cane earned 24% of the votes as New Zealand’s most respected player, ahead of Brodie Retallick with 17%.
He will have one more chance to impress the doubters in the Chiefs last game against the Hurricanes, where they will try to avoid a clean sweep of losses against every New Zealand team twice.
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments