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Why Sam Cane is staying on as a Chiefs captain despite 'arduous' All Blacks duties
Returning to a long-held norm that was curiously missing last season, utilising co-captains at the Chiefs is all about sharing the load for incumbent All Blacks skipper Sam Cane.
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It was a departure from the captaincy norms in Chiefs country when Cane was named as the sole skipper of the Waikato-based franchise last season, ditching the use of co-captains for the first time in nine years.
Seen at the time as one of the first big imprints of the Warren Gatland era, it also timed in with Cane’s first full season as All Blacks captain.
The 29-year old had been Chiefs co-captain since 2015, sharing alongside the likes of Brodie Retallick, Aaron Cruden, Liam Messam and Charlie Ngatai.
New interim head coach Clayton McMillan signalled back in January that the Chiefs would look to re-implement the use of co-captains this season under his tenure, with easing the load on Cane being one of the primary factors behind the decision.
Discussions were had about Cane letting go of the Chiefs captaincy altogether, but keeping sharp on leadership skills and remaining in a role of responsibility, all be it in an eased fashion, was the direction the 29-year-old wanted to take in 2021.
“I see the Chiefs captaincy as a role I enjoy and it gives me a chance to stay sharp in my leadership skills,” Cane said
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“It’s about getting used to those responsibilities of being a captain full time rather than not having those duties here and having to get used to them again at the next level”.
Joining Cane is Brad Weber, who McMillan concluded was the obvious choice given his experience, standing within the leadership group, and time spent as regular stand-in Chiefs skipper in recent seasons.
“Brad was the obvious choice because he has a huge amount of respect within the team,” McMillan said on Tuesday.
“He’s a current All Black who commands his starting position and we really felt that Sam really needed some support given how arduous his role as All Black captain can be both on and off the field, so we hoped that sharing his responsibilities here at the Chiefs will be good for the team”.
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Weber, a mainstay in the Chiefs since 2014 who re-signed with the franchise for another season last year, doesn’t see much change in his elevation to now holding captaincy credentials on an official basis.
The Chiefs have confirmed halfback Brad Weber will join All Blacks captain Sam Cane as co-captain of the Chiefs for 2021.https://t.co/knJs2hur9k
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 22, 2021
“To be honest I don’t see a hell of a lot changing because I’m used to leading in behind Sam,” Weber said.
“We bounce ideas off each other leadership-wise and for me it will be about taking on a bit more responsibility with the outside stuff like talking to referees, dealing with media, and any other sort of load around the leadership group.”
Just who speaks for the team on the field will be partly determined by the referee on match day, but thanks to both familiarity and a good working relationship, the Chiefs don’t anticipate any issues determining who takes the mantle, especially when it comes to utilising the new captain’s challenge.
“It might depend on the referee and I know in the past some of them only like to deal with one player,” Cane said.
“I would like to think that because we’ve been around long enough and are reasonably calm and collected on the field, the referees will respect that and know we won’t be speaking with too much emotion and won’t be going to them with issues unless we feel they’re having a direct impact on us playing the game”.
As the new Super Rugby Aotearoa season looms large on the horizon, a former All Black has named a 'Hype XV' made up of players to take note of over the coming weeks. #SuperRugbyAotearoa https://t.co/nwGOic1rFx
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 23, 2021
With a bye in week one of Super Rugby Aotearoa, the Chiefs will get an opportunity to rest and recover from a busy pre-season.
On the much-talked about injury front, a few niggles were reported this week, with Damian McKenzie (foot) and Pita Gus Sowakula sitting out training.
“We’ve picked up a couple of niggles, but it’s because of the nature of our preseason training,” McMilllan said.
“We’ve had a big overload knowing that we had the bye in week one so the team will be heading off tomorrow to take a few days away and freshen up and I don’t expect any of those who are sitting on the sideline will be out of commission for too long.”
The Chiefs kick their season into gear on March 5 when they play host to the Highlanders at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton.
Listen to the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod below:
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