The return of Sam Cane to the No 7 jersey for the All Blacks is shaping up to be one of the most compelling rugby narratives of the year. All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has announced three changes to the match-day 23 for their Rugby Championship test against the Springboks in Johannesburg on Sunday morning (NZT), with Cane stepping in as openside flanker, replacing Dalton Papali’i, who is sidelined with a thumb injury.
The only other adjustment is in the reserves, where loose forward Samipeni Finau will be added to provide additional impact in what promises to be a physically demanding match against the Springboks in front of approximately 62,000 spectators at Ellis Park. The backline remains unchanged from previous matches.
Cane’s only appearance in the black jersey this year occurred as he came off the bench during the victory over Argentina in Auckland nearly two weeks ago. The last time he wore the No 7 jersey for the All Blacks was during the World Cup final against the Springboks in Paris last October, which marked a challenging moment in his career. In that match, a high tackle on Springboks midfielder Jesse Kriel led to Cane receiving a red card, preventing him from participating as the Springboks narrowly secured a 12-11 victory.
Although Scott Barrett now holds the captaincy, Cane has been instrumental in preparing the team for this crucial matchup against the Boks on their home soil. His opportunities on the field this year have been limited due to a serious back injury that required surgery in March. This injury restricted his playtime with the Suntory Sungoliath club in Japan, where his last match was in January. After returning to New Zealand, Cane participated in a few local club matches in Bay of Plenty and pre-season games for his province.
This upcoming test against the Springboks will mark Cane’s 97th appearance for the All Blacks and is expected to be one of the most challenging matches of Scott Robertson’s coaching career.
The All Blacks lineup features: 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 include Asafo Aumua, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Sam Darry, Samipeni Finau, Cortez Ratima, Anton Lienert-Brown, and Mark Tele’a.