Still plenty to work on says Cane
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As All Blacks coach Ian Foster fought to retain his job in South Africa, Sam Cane vacated his ringside seat to help dig him out of a hole.
It could also be argued that All Blacks captain and openside flanker Cane prolonged his own career in the process.
Had the All Blacks not beaten the Springboks 35-23 in Johannesburg on August 14, NZ Rugby would have axed Foster, inserted Scott Robertson as his replacement and allowed the latter to get on with his work.
Which, in turn, may have resulted in Robertson appointing a fresh skipper to lead the All Blacks into a new era.
NZ Rugby’s decision to endorse Foster through to the World Cup put paid to that; Cane now remains the leader of the rejuvenated All Blacks as they prepare for the Rugby Championship match against Argentina in Christchurch on Saturday night.
Following the upset win over the Springboks at Ellis Park, Cane and his team-mates were forced to, once again, play the roles of nervous spectators as NZ Rugby decided Foster’s fate upon his return to New Zealand.
For Cane, being unburdened from those dramas behind must have been like shedding a cloak of doom when the All Blacks trained at Rugby Park in Christchurch yesterday.
The No 7, however, was cautious when asked if it was a relief to ease the pressure valve.
‘‘No, I don’t think so. It hasn’t changed too much in terms of that,’’ Cane said. ‘‘It is always enjoyable coming to work. It’s a privilege to play in this team, preparing to play test matches and represent our country.
‘‘That doesn’t change. It’s one performance isn’t it? Just because we got that one right, it doesn’t guarantee we are going to get this one right.
‘‘So there is plenty of work to go into this week, as well.’’
The All Blacks’ recent record – two wins from their last seven tests – is a reminder how quickly things can go wrong, and wins over Argentina in Christchurch and Hamilton next weekend will help wipe away the memories of the recent misfires.
Snapping the three-match losing streak in Johannesburg also means Cane is under less scrutiny; as the leader, his performances and decisions were the subject of intense public debate at home and abroad.
During an 82-test career that began in 2012, Cane had never been put under so much heat from the rugby public. Being mentally resilient, and tough, was vital. So, too, was putting his effort into what he could influence.
‘‘I suppose the importance is to be able to control your attention and focus and not let it stray into things that you can’t control or aren’t important,’’ he said.
‘‘Sometimes that is easier said than done.’’
Cane has good reason to respect an Argentinian team, now coached by Michael Cheika, that beat the Wallabies 48-17 in Argentina recently.
In 2020 Cane also had the dubious distinction of captaining the All Blacks to a 25-15 defeat to Argentina, their first-ever loss to that team, in Sydney.
The upcoming match will be the All Blacks’ first in Christchurch since 2016, a result of NZ Rugby refusing to stage tests in the city because of the modest Orangetheory Stadium which was constructed as a ‘‘temporary’’ venue after the 2011 earthquakes.
‘‘I reckon they [Argentina] are one of the best defensive sides in the world, when they get it right,’’ Cane said. ‘‘They can cause us trouble at the breakdown, and if we don’t kick well and have a good chase-line, they can spread the ball really well.’’
EJ