New Zealand left sweating over fitness of Cane
SAM Cane is in a race against the clock to play in the first All Blacks Test of the year on Saturday.
The Chiefs flanker missed the Crusaders game last night due to his ongoing abdominal injury – the fourth Super Rugby game in a row he’s sat out since the Jaguares game in Rotorua.
With regular captain Kieran Read unavailable while he recovers from surgery on his spine, Sam Whitelock is in line to lead the All Blacks against France in the first test in Auckland on June 9.
However Whitelock has been forced to miss the Crusaders’ recent matches against the Hurricanes and Blues because of concussion.
Given openside flanker Cane and Ben Smith have been listed as joint vice-captains, one or both would be promoted. Beauden Barrett also led the All Blacks when they met the Barbarians in London last November.
One man not interested in the captaincy is the 68cap second row bruiser Brodie Retallick. “Not really, to be fair,” he said. “I just enjoy playing rugby. I don’t mind being a leader, but there’s a lot of admin that comes with being captain and I will leave that to them.
“I have been in the leadership group for a few years, and like everyone here our job is to play their role within the team to the best of their ability.
“There’s a great group of leaders to fill the void, and obviously Kieran has still been around in the last couple of camps and he will be there throughout the June series.”
Exactly when Read will return is uncertain. He has indicated he could return in July, although the deadline will be shifted back if his recovery is delayed.
Chiefs team-mate Damian McKenzie, who has played the majority of the Super Rugby season at flyhalf this year after previously operating at fullback, is fighting for a place in the match-day 23.
McKenzie, like Barrett did earlier in his career, could be added as a second playmaker from the substitutes bench in the second half of Tests and being able to cover 10, 15 and wing could give McKenzie the advantage over Richie Mo’unga on the bench.
“Obviously I have learned a lot, it is a lot more different role than to 15,” McKenzie, said in reference to shifting to 10.
“You are more a leader, and get the team around the park. It has been a bit of a change and I am really enjoying it. “Yes, it. It has been a big change. I guess 15 is a bit free-spirited in how you play and at 10, you have got to be a bit smarter. That has been a bit of a difference from previous years.” below,