Who will replace Cane?
It doesn’t take much to go from an embarrassment of riches to a meagre supply.
The nasty neck fracture to openside flanker Sam Cane means the All Blacks selectors now have some quick thinking to do on how they operate personnel in that position over the five remaining tests of the year.
Cane, 26, has gone through his fair share of injuries in recent times, with the latest setback occurring after his head collided with Springboks loose forward Francois Louw in the 35th minute of New Zealand’s come-frombehind 32-30 win in Pretoria on Sunday morning (NZT).
Earlier this year the All Blacks would have again been the world’s envy in terms of their openside department, chugging along with Cane, Ardie Savea and Matt Todd in their clutches – all players other teams would be delighted to have as their No 1 fetcher.
Todd’s departure for Japanese club Panasonic after the Crusaders’ Super Rugby campaign left a wee gap, but with Cane and Savea the All Blacks were still well stocked for the Rugby Championship.
But with Cane now gone for the rest of the season, all of a sudden there is a gaping hole to fill in a larger squad for the northern tour.
After a two-week break, the All Blacks face tests against Australia and Japan in Japan, with coach Steve Hansen already indicating the latter fixture will see 19 extra players used on top of their original 32, in order to allow 22 or 23 to head to Europe early in preparation for the matches against England, Ireland and Italy.
It means there’s a few openside jobs up for grabs.
Here’s a look at the contenders, assuming they are fit when the touring squad gets named:
ARDIE SAVEA
Age: 24, Height: 1.88m, Weight: 100kg Now the first-choice No 7.
Has had to bide his time behind Cane in recent seasons, but rather ironically, given the circumstances now, has produced two of his best performances in the past two weeks.
One of those was starting at No 8, against the Pumas in Buenos Aires, showing off his trademark leg-drive, before his big impact in replacing Cane against the Springboks, where he snaffled key turnovers and scored the match-levelling try.
DILLON HUNT
Age: 23, Height: 1.88m, Weight: 102kg
Probably the next cab off the rank. Has already played a match for the All Blacks, remember, after featuring against the French XV last year, having also taken the park against the men in black 10 days earlier for the Barbarians.
Stocks have risen quickly after being called into the Highlanders as an injury replacement last season. Now putting his speed around the park and quality snaffle to good use with North Harbour in the Mitre 10 Cup after transferring from Otago.
JAMES LENTJES
Age: 27, Height: 1.88m, Weight: 101kg
Not far off. Already on the national radar, with Hansen mentioning the robust ball-carrier in the same breath as Hunt when explaining the toss-up decision on who to bring in as cover last year.
Has also been heavily hampered by injury in his time with the Highlanders and Otago, and just returned for the latter via the bench last week, from, ironically, a neck problem.
MITCH KARPIK
Age: 23, Height: 1.85m, Weight: 105kg
An outside shot.
What is it with these guys and injuries? Another to have felt the pinch since bursting onto the scene in 2015 with the New Zealand under20s and Auckland.
Missed entire debut Super Rugby season with the Chiefs in 2016, but has shone when given a chance in Cane’s absence, with ranging carries and vigorous breakdown work, and has carried that enthusiasm into his Bay of Plenty season.