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‘Incorrectly reported’: Why Sam Cane didn’t 'front the press' after SRP Final
After a stellar season in Super Rugby Pacific, there was no fairytale finish for the Chiefs in last weekend’s decider at FMG Stadium Waikato. But not long after the full-time siren had sounded, another twist came as a surprise to reporters.
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Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan fronted the media on his own after the gut-wrenching 25-20 defeat to the champion Crusaders in the final, without co-captains Sam Cane and Brad Weber.
The absence of Cane, who is also the captain of the All Blacks, ruffled some feathers within the rugby community – including some fans on social media.
Among those who expressed their concern, Newshub’s rugby reporter Ollie Ritchie said Cane’s “decision” was “disappointing” – adding that it was “unbecoming of an All Blacks captain.”
But Cane has hit back at any and all incorrect reports.
After the All Blacks’ jersey for this year’s Rugby World Cup was revealed, Cane attempted to clarify what actually happened.
“It’s been misreported or incorrectly reported that I made the decision not to go to the presser but as a matter of fact Clayton made that decision on his own that he would front the press,” Cane told 1News.
“Obviously I’ve been involved in some tough losses in the past and have always fronted up – it was only five minutes post-game (on Saturday) and I was on the field addressing the crowd and acknowledging the Crusaders – so it wasn’t a case of not fronting up.
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“Clayton made that decision and I only found out about 20 minutes later.”
The Chiefs started their season with a emphatic win over the Crusaders in Christchurch, and beat them again in late April.
But the Chiefs needed to create history in last weekend’s decider, and ultimately fell short. No team has ever beaten the Crusaders three times in a single campaign.
Tries to Shaun Stevenson and Emoni Narawa saw the hosts take a five-point lead into the business end of the final. With less than 10 minutes to play, the Chiefs worked tirelessly in defence – hoping to hold off the Crusaders’ relentless attack.
But, with eight minutes left on the clock, disaster struck.
Co-captain Cane was yellow carded, and the Crusaders ultimately made the most of their one-player advantage.
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All Black Codie Taylor crossed for a crucial score in the 73rd minute, and departing Crusaders Richie Mo’unga added the extras.
The Chiefs were only beaten twice this season, but unfortunately for them, one of those losses came in the biggest game of the season.
“We put a lot into the season and then to lose at home in front of our fans in what was a close game, a lot of boys were hurting and it’s taken us a few days to recover,” Cane said.
“But now that the dust has settled a little bit we can look back and have plenty to be proud of in what was an awesome season.”
The All Blacks fly out to Argentina on Sunday for their first Test match of the season.
New Zealand will take on Los Pumas in Mendoza before returning home to face fierce rivals South Africa in Auckland.
Comments on RugbyPass
Not sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
225 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
225 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to commentsIf he had stopped insisting on playing in the backrow, instead of wing, where everyone told him he should, he would have been a Bok years ago….
11 Go to comments‘Salads don’t win scrums’ 😂 I love that.
19 Go to commentsCan’t wait for the article that talks about misogyny in Ireland. Somehow.
16 Go to commentsI would like to see a rule change, when the attacking team is held up over the try line, by allowing the defensive team to restart a goal line drop out releases the pressure for the defensive team, but what if the attacking team had to restart a tap 5m out from the defensive team it gives the attacking team to apply more pressure, there are endless options for the attacking side and it will keep the fans in suspence.
2 Go to commentsLess modern South African males predictably triggered.
16 Go to commentsMy heart is with Quins, but the head is convinced Toulouse have too much. Ntamack is back, his timing and wisdom has been missed.
1 Go to commentsWow, what a starting line up for the Sharks) Tasty up front,kremer vs Tshituka or venter …fiery ,,Lavannini ,,will he knobble etzebeth? Biggest game for belleau?
1 Go to commentsIt was rubbish to watch, Blues weren’t even present. Did what they had to do, nothing more. Should be better next week against canes.
1 Go to commentsI’ve just noticed that this match has an all-French refereeing team. Surely a game like this ought to have a neutral ref? Although looking at the BBC preview of the Saints game, Raynal is also down as reffing that - so there may be some confusion about who is reffing what.
1 Go to commentsIf Havili can play anywhere in the back line, why not first 5. #10.
11 Go to commentsThe dressing room had already left for their summer break before they ran out in Dublin that year, and that’s on the coach. Franco Smith has undoubtedly made progress, particularly their maul, developing squad players and increasing squad depth. And against a very tight budget too. That said they were too lightweight last year and got found out against both Toulon and Munster in consecutive games. Better this season so far but they’ve developed something of a slow start habit occasionally, most notably losing at home to Northampton who played them at their own game. Play offs will ultimately show whether there has been tangible progress on last year, or not…!
2 Go to commentsAustralian Rugby has been a disaster, by not incorporating learning from previous successful campaigns. QLD Reds 2011 - Waratahs 2014. Players, coaches and administrators appoint there representatives for scheduled meetings, organisation’s agreement’s assessments and correspondence. This why a unified Rugby Union under one entity works. Every Rugby nation has taken that path. Was most difficult in the Northern hemisphere with over 100 years of club rugby before the game become professional. Took a lot of humility for those unions to eventually work together.
7 Go to commentsThough Wilson’s sacking was pretty brutal, it wasn’t just down to that Leinster game; Glasgow had a lot of 2nd half collapses that season, in the URC and Europe, and only just scraped into the playoffs. Franco Smith has definitely been an improvement, some players are delivering far more than they did under Wilson.
2 Go to commentsjesus - that front 5!
1 Go to commentsShould be an absolute cracker of a game! Will be great to see DuPont & Ntamack in tandem once again🔥
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