Cane steers clear

Sam Cane is pretty tight with Brodie Retallick, so who better to provide a little humour and perspective to the ravefest about the do-it-all All Blacks lock.

Retallick was nothing short of sensational in the All Blacks’ 38-13 victory over the Wallabies at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night, highlighting a virtuoso performance with an outrageous dummy and 25-metre charge to the line during a sizzling second half from the New Zealanders.

On an evening when his second-row mate Sam Whitelock became the eighth member of the All Blacks centurion’s club, and as a duo they drew to within two tests of the all-time record mark, Retallick stole the headlines with another display that reminded everyone he is the best lock in the world game, bar none.

Cane, of course, as a Chiefs and All Blacks team-mate has seen it all. But he admitted that he never fails to marvel at the standards his ‘‘mullet fraternity’’ compadre brings to the test arena.

‘‘I’m also pretty wary that we talk him up too much because his head can inflate quite quickly.’’ Sam Cane on Brodie Retallick

‘‘I am surprised he just keeps doing stuff a big man shouldn’t and changes the game and way his position is played and sets the bar pretty high,’’ said Cane, before switching modes somewhat.

‘‘I’m also pretty wary that we talk him up too much because his head can inflate quite quickly.

‘‘It’s our role to try bring him back down to the ground. He reads a lot of his own articles too, so that’s the danger.’’

On a more serious note, Cane lauded the pack performance that saw the All Blacks forwards squeeze the life out of the Wallabies at set-piece time. They forced seven lineouts turnovers