The elephant in the room with Sam Cane's All Black captaincy
It’s probably time to discuss the All Blacks’ specialist captain.
We all get why incoming head coach Ian Foster opted for Sam Cane.
Handsome and articulate, Cane is the ideal face for New Zealand Rugby (NZR). You might argue this country needs a more diverse representation at the helm right now, not to mention sprinkled throughout the coaching staff.
Again, though, you get how Cane got the nod. A loosie, like so many All Blacks captains before him, hailing from Chiefs country wouldn’t have hurt his chances either.
But what is a hindrance to him is the shadow cast by Richie McCaw.
It’s not just that McCaw, like Cane, was an openside flanker. Nor the similarity in looks and charm.
No, it’s the fact McCaw reeled off an astonishing 148 test appearances and was as good in the last of those as he was in the first. That creates an expectation about an All Blacks captain and what he’s capable of; an expectation that Cane is not equipped to live up to.
McCaw was, by and large, always the best player in his position in this country, which you would have to argue Cane is not. More than that, he had a durability that not only Cane can’t match, but most loose forwards across the board.
McCaw was the exception, not the rule, and the idea that Cane can or will do remotely similar is fanciful. Never mind the broken neck, or the back injury that’s sidelined him this season, Cane has a history of head knocks too.
With the best will in the world, there’s little in his playing pedigree to suggest Cane can be kept on the park between now and the 2023 Rugby World Cup and we haven’t even got to the issues of form or loose forward balance yet.
Just so there’s no confusion here or allegations of some keyboard warrior chopping down a tall poppy, Cane is a tremendous ambassador for our game. A guy who cares and tries and treats people with respect and who carries himself well and will – you imagine – excel at life after rugby and be a fine husband and father.
That’s not hyperbole. When you write about and talk to people for a living, you quickly work out which are the good ones and who are the bad.
Cane seems a terrifically good bloke but – to go back to the start – you wonder if the All Blacks can afford to carry a specialist captain.
Alternatives? Sure, I’ll give you one. I reckon Ardie Savea’s best spot is No.8, but I’m prepared to accept that he perhaps doesn’t have the height or bulk to be a genuine test great there.
Not that a lack of size has ever hampered Savea before.
But if we agree that 8 maybe isn’t his best test position, at least for argument’s sake, then I’d have Savea as openside and captain. Not that you imagine this coaching and selection group would entertain the idea of him there ahead of Cane.
It’s a measure of Savea’s talent that he could be New Zealand’s 2019 player of the year from the blindside flanker’s position. Sure, he packed at 8 on the All Blacks’ scrum ball, but 6 was the role he was cast in once Liam Squire made himself unavailable.
Surely that’s not going to be Savea’s permanent test spot which, given the captaincy situation, only leaves No.8.
Hoskins Sotutu has certainly impressed people from that position, while Marino Mikaele-Tu’u is a player with a similar skillset. Whether both become All Blacks remains to be seen, but they certainly have the potential.
As does Shannon Frizell at 6 and the emerging Cullen Grace. The luckless Luke Jacobson is still in the mix and let’s not forget the versatile Lachlan Boshier goes all right at blindside too.
There’s a bit of loose forward talent around when you consider Dalton Papalii, Akira Ioane and Tom Robinson wouldn’t look out of place in All Blacks’ jumpers either.
It’s a big ask to think Cane will have one spot in the trio permanently locked down, with everyone else (including Ardie Savea) potentially taking turns in the other two.
Frankly, if any loose forward has earned the right to permanent possession of a jumper, then it’s Savea. But then he’s not the captain and is therefore unlikely to be afforded that privilege.
There’s certainly a lot to be said for being named skipper. Time will tell if it’s too much.
Comments on RugbyPass
Four Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
1 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
9 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
15 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
2 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
1 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
9 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
9 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
9 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to commentsThis sounds a lot like the old Welsh rugby proverb “Wales never lose. Other teams just score more points.”
5 Go to commentsFinally,at last, Borthwick has done what the whole of England have been crying out for. Ditch the kick chase and let the players have freedom to attack and run with the ball. It was great to see. Ford played really well and for the first time in ages was 5 yards closer to the gainline which then allowed a more attacking position . Pity it has taken 90 odd caps to do so. However, this has to continue and not be a false dawn . One issue. Marcus. With Ford having one really good game in 5 ,is he the answer long term . Smith puts bums on seats and is terrific to watch . How can you leave him out before he departs for France in disillusion . England are in danger of Simmons , Alex Goode , Cipriani , Mercer and now Smith being unable to get a selection ahead of “favourites” of the management regardless of form . Great to see England play so well .
2 Go to commentsCockerill was an abrasive player in the mould of a Georgian front rower who will have the respect of that pack. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with this exciting team, hopefully they can send a message to unions like Wales that money alone doesn't buy you wins.
2 Go to commentsI like the look of those July matches. Hopefully they'll get some good tests in November too.
2 Go to commentsThis is a poor article, essentially just trolling six nations teams
22 Go to commentsConnaught man? How you can write that without blushing.
6 Go to comments