Sam Cane’s return in the No 7 jersey for the All Blacks is shaping up to be one of the standout rugby narratives of the year. All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has made three adjustments to the match-day squad for the Rugby Championship test against the Springboks in Johannesburg on Sunday morning (NZT), with Cane stepping in as openside flanker in place of Dalton Papali’i, who is sidelined with a thumb injury.
The only other modification is in the reserves, where loose forward Samipeni Finau has been added for added impact in what is anticipated to be a tough contest against the Springboks, with about 62,000 fans expected at Ellis Park. The backline remains unchanged.
Cane’s only appearance in the black jersey this year was coming off the bench during the All Blacks’ win over Argentina in Auckland roughly two weeks ago. His last start as the All Blacks No 7 was during the World Cup final against the Springboks in Paris in late October, a moment he considers one of the lowest points in his career due to a red card issued for a high tackle on Springboks’ Jesse Kriel, which led to the All Blacks’ narrow loss.
Despite Scott Barrett taking over as captain, Cane has been influential in preparing the team for this challenging match in South Africa. He has faced limited action this year due to a significant back injury that required surgery in March, which curtailed his time with the Suntory Sungoliath club in Japan, where he played his last match in January.
After returning to New Zealand, Cane made a few appearances with his Bay of Plenty club and participated in pre-season games. The upcoming match against the Springboks will mark Cane’s 97th test for the All Blacks, representing a crucial challenge in Robertson’s coaching tenure.
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 feature Asafo Aumua, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Sam Darry, Samipeni Finau, Cortez Ratima, Anton Lienert-Brown, and Mark Tele’a.