Sam Cane’s return to the No 7 jersey for the All Blacks is being hailed as one of the standout rugby stories of the year. All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has made three adjustments to the match-day 23 for the upcoming Rugby Championship test against the Springboks in Johannesburg this Sunday morning (NZT), with Cane stepping in at openside flanker, replacing Dalton Papali’i, who is sidelined due to a thumb injury.
The only other modification involves adding loose forward Samipeni Finau to the reserves, aiming to enhance the team’s physical presence in what is anticipated to be a challenging match against the Springboks in front of an expected crowd of about 62,000 at Ellis Park. The backline remains unchanged.
Cane’s only appearance in the All Blacks jersey this year was as a substitute during the victory over Argentina in Auckland nearly two weeks ago. His last time donning the No 7 jersey was during the World Cup final against the Springboks in Paris last October, a match marked by his red card for a high tackle on Jesse Kriel, which resulted in a 12-11 defeat.
While Scott Barrett currently leads the team as captain, Cane has played a significant role in the preparations leading up to this match against the Springboks on their home ground. His early year was hampered by a severe back injury requiring surgery in March, which limited his game time with the Suntory Sungoliath club in Japan—his last game there was in January.
After returning to New Zealand, Cane participated in a few fixtures for his local club in Bay of Plenty as well as in pre-season games for his province. The clash against the Springboks will mark Cane’s 97th test for the All Blacks, which poses a significant challenge for Robertson in his coaching career.
The All Blacks lineup includes 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, and Tamaiti Williams. The reserves consist of Asafo Aumua, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Sam Darry, Samipeni Finau, Cortez Ratima, Anton Lienert-Brown, and Mark Tele’a.