Thoughts from the new All Blacks captain: Why Sam Cane frustrates coach Ian Foster
All Black coach Ian Foster revealed his new captain Sam Cane can be “frustrating” to deal with.
And the Chiefs loose forward says he already knew that Foster could find him a bit annoying.
After appointing Cane this week, Foster said: “He’s really comfortable in own skin about who he is and not afraid to challenge and question.
“He likes clarity. If things are not clear he will asks a lot of questions. It’s a bit frustrating at times but that’s the beauty of him as a captain.”
When asked by Newstalk ZB’s Martin Devlin about Foster’s suggestion he could be annoying as Devlin put it, Cane said: “I know what he means because he’s said it to me in the past.
“I like to have a good understanding of what we’re doing and the why behind it. Once I understand that I can help drive it – that’s what he’s alluding to there.”
But Cane also revealed that it is not his style to be so questioning of referees.
“Early on in my career, particularly the first few years as captain, I worked with a couple of referees (about) the right questions to ask, when to shut up and leave them alone, how they think during a game.
“They are under pressure as well. Sometimes I find less is better with referees, and they’ve told me that too. It’s a bit of a philosophy I have unless it is something I feel strongly about or I feel it is the right time
“I won’t be in the referee’s ear all game – that works for me as well, to focus on your own team and your own play.”
The reception to his appointment
“Now it is all out in the open I’ve been pretty overwhelmed with the messages of support,” he said.
“The most important thing is you have the respect of teammates, management and the team…every rugby player goes out there to earn the respect of their teammates above all else.
“You certainly feel a bit more expectation on your shoulders, you’re not just worried about yourself but I’m a lot better at managing that now.”
Cane said he had learned how to concentrate on his own game and use breaks in play to take care of team matters. A captain needed to put a lot of trust in players around him, and particularly in the halfback and first five-eighth.
He had built strong bonds over a decade with some fellow All Backs, from their junior days.
On the media
“I’ve learnt over the years to take everything with a grain of salt, have a bit of a thick skin…the most important opinions are from close ones.”
On getting used to collisions again
“I remember talking to (former All Black loose forward) Rodney So’oialo and one of the things he missed most about rugby was the contact and collision
“Loose forwards and the tight five will know what he means…it really resonated, after a while you do miss that.
“No doubt you are sore after them but it’s amazing how quickly your body can adjust – a few weeks of that and we’ll be back into it.
“Sometimes when you haven’t played for a while and you’re watching a game you think ‘geez that’s physical, holy smoke’…but then you’re out there the next day doing it yourself.
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“These days everyone’s got the players best interests at heart…it’s going to be a minimum of three weeks training before the first game…two weeks of just training with no game at the weekend and in the third week we are training for the game on Saturday.
“There’s a lot of trust put in medical staff, strength and conditioning coaches…it’s just about getting those collisions in. It’s what we’ve been training for and keeping fit for during this period.”
On Foster’s somewhat contentious appointment
Cane said Foster’s eight years in a very successful All Black camp meant he was perfectly placed to know what worked, and what he would like to tweak.
“Just because we didn’t get the job done last year, there are still a lot of good things in place, he’s able to identify the tweaks,” Cane said.
He described Foster as “tactically up with the best” and “good at narrowing down the things to get right”.
“He’s a good people person, good values, cares about his players, I think he’ll do a fantastic job.”
Cane’s only real contact with Foster’s All Black coaching rival Scott Robertson was when the Crusaders boss was selecting New Zealand under-20 loose forwards, when Cane was emerging.
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Will the All Blacks play this year?
“I’m really hopeful and all the signs are pretty positive…most likely Australia, potentially Ireland could open up as well, South Africa could get across. That would be awesome.”
He said rugby needed to put a “good product” out.
On being benched for Scott Barrett in the World Cup semi-final against England
“Steve (Hansen) called me into his room (before the team announcement) and just gave me his reasoning, he was open and honest…wanted to target the English lineout offensively, to stop the ball at the source.
“I was hugely disappointed because you want to be involved in the big games.
“I knew I would be involved but not to same capacity. It was tough, but a good test for my character, to suck it up and get on with it and do my best when I got on the field.”
On his comeback from a broken neck
Cane said he didn’t really acknowledge his incredible recovery at the time but “it’s pretty remarkable how life can take you on different journeys”.
Comments on RugbyPass
Completely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
54 Go to commentsThe 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
54 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.
54 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
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
54 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
54 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.
54 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.
54 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.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to comments