The return of Sam Cane to the All Blacks’ No 7 jersey is shaping up to be one of the standout rugby narratives of the year. All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has announced three alterations to the match-day 23 for the Rugby Championship test against the Springboks, which will take place in Johannesburg on Sunday morning (NZT). Cane will take over the openside flanker position, replacing Dalton Papali’i, who is sidelined due to a thumb injury.
The only other change involves Samipeni Finau stepping into the reserves to add depth and impact for what is anticipated to be a physically demanding match against the Springboks, expected to draw a crowd of approximately 62,000 at Ellis Park. The backline remains unchanged ahead of this contest.
Cane’s only appearance for the All Blacks this year came as a substitute during the victory over Argentina in Auckland nearly two weeks ago. His last start in the No 7 jersey was as captain against the Springboks in the World Cup final in Paris last October, a match marked by controversy for Cane, who received a red card for a high tackle early in the game. His absence on the field as the Springboks clinched a narrow 12-11 victory was one of the more challenging experiences of his career.
While Scott Barrett currently leads the team, Cane has played a crucial role in the team’s strategy to secure a win on South African soil. His playing time has been limited this year due to a significant back injury that necessitated surgery in March, impacting his appearances for the Suntory Sungoliath club in Japan, where he last played in January. After returning to New Zealand, Cane participated in several club matches for Bay of Plenty and played in pre-season games for his province.
The upcoming match against the Springboks will mark Cane’s 97th test appearance for the All Blacks, adding to the significance of this challenging encounter, which is poised to be one of the toughest in Robertson’s coaching tenure.
The All Blacks lineup is as follows: Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Damian McKenzie, TJ Perenara, Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Ethan Blackadder, Tupou Vaa’i, Scott Barrett (captain), Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Tamaiti Williams.
Reserves include: Asafo Aumua, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Sam Darry, Samipeni Finau, Cortez Ratima, Anton Lienert-Brown, Mark Tele’a.