Rested, willing and able – Cane
For Sam Cane it’s all about the preparation. The rugged All Blacks No 7 feels like a big one could be brewing in Sydney on Saturday night.
Put it this way: he believes he has given himself every chance with a concentrated physical preparation that has him primed for his expected battle against the dual Australian breakdown threat of Michael Hooper and David Pocock.
By his own admission, the 26-year-old Chiefs loose forward was not quite himself for the June tests against France where he largely failed to make his customary impact around the field.
By the time the third test rolled around against the French, it was decided Cane would benefit more by sitting out after two largely unimpressive outings.
But that was then. And when Cane spoke to the media in Sydney ahead of the Bledisloe opener against the Wallabies he made it abundantly clear that he’s a different man a couple of months on with the benefit of a preparation period not compromised by injury.
‘‘In a funny way there are similarities in a sense as the Chiefs’ [quarterfinal exit] means I haven’t played a high-intensity game for a few weeks. But what feels a lot better is I’ve had 2-3 weeks of similar training to a preseason, whereas for those couple of months leading up to June I was getting involved in the bare minimum trying to get the body right (from a nagging abdominal strain).
‘‘With a couple of weeks off and the reassembly comes a real excitement to play. You tick the boxes and do your preparation, but you’re actually really fizzing to go have a game with the boys.’’
Cane, who will earn his 56th cap on Saturday night, anticipates that both Pocock and Hooper bringing plenty to the Wallaby challenge after battling through their own recent injury challenges.
Pocock had a delayed re-entry into Super Rugby after postsabbatical knee surgery and Hooper has just missed a sixweek chunk after suffering a
hamstring strain in the opening test against Ireland.
‘‘Pocock is always a big threat when he plays and the way he continually bounces back and plays at such a high level is outstanding,’’ said Cane. ‘‘It creates an awareness – we’re on more high alert than normal around the breakdown.’’
The same respect was afforded Hooper. ‘‘He’s played so much footy for his age, experience is something he has got bucketloads of despite being 26 years old. He’s got a big ticker, runs all day.’’
Cane also explained why he believed Sydney’s ANZ Stadium had become such a happy hunting ground first up for the All Blacks in recent times. They won 54-34 there last year on the back of a sizzling first half that saw them lead 40-6 at the break. And in 2016 they thumped the Aussies 42-8.
‘‘In previous years we used to come over later in the week, so I think it’s been great, particularly at this point in the season, [to come over early]. We’ve just assembled, coming from five different teams to come over here where there are not the distractions that can sometimes be at home. This just keeps us tight being over here for the week and at this time of the year, when we’re just coming together, that’s really helpful.’’
Tight clearly works for the All Blacks. Fifteen years of Bledisloe domination speaks to that.
‘‘With a couple of weeks off and the reassembly comes a real excitement to play.’’ Sam Cane