All Blacks coach highlights Sam Cane’s importance to New Zealand cause

All Blacks forwards coach Jason Ryan has highlighted the importance of experienced openside flanker Sam Cane ahead of their upcoming tour to Japan and Europe.

The selection of Cane – and fellow veteran TJ Perenara – in All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson’s 36-man squad for their Tests against the Brave Blossoms, England, Ireland, France and Italy was one of the big talking points earlier in the week.

The duo are both set to take up lucrative offers in Japan after the tour which will bring down the curtain on their illustrious Test careers.

Test centurion

Former New Zealand skipper Cane made his 100th Test appearance in their Rugby Championship clash against Australia in Wellington last month and Robertson feels both he and Perenara still have important roles to play in the All Blacks environment.

Speaking on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod, Ryan was asked whether Cane and Perenara’s experience counted in their favour when the squad was selected, particularly because the All Blacks have young and inexperienced players like Wallace Sititi, Cam Roigard and Cortez Ratima in their loose forward and scrum-half positions, and replied: “You’re 100% right. Look, I think both those men (Cane and Perenara) have been phenomenal in the leadership group. And this is a big part of setting young guys up to succeed, isn’t it?”

Ryan revealed what it’s like to coach a player like Cane, who made his Test debut against Ireland in 2012.

“You know, they’ve been performing well on the field but if I look at the forward side of it with Sam Cane, I couldn’t speak highly enough about the guy,” he said.

“He’s just been an unbelievable leader in how he’s come in this year. He’s built his body back from a little bit of resilience and a few setbacks. He challenges the group.

Justin Marshall identifies who will be All Blacks’ toughest opponents on year-end tour

“He challenges himself and he still wants to get better. But, you know, when we go north, we need experience, whether or not that’s on the field or off the field. And they know the stage that they’re at as All Blacks heading into next season.

“You know, they’re not going to be there but they’ll pass the baton. You know, they’ve set guys up to succeed. So they know their role in this northern tour and I’m sure that they’re going to push hard and give back everything that they know they can and that we know they can.”

He also explained exactly how Cane’s excellent leadership skills is benefiting the younger and less experienced players in the All Blacks squad.

‘A great one at helping players out on and off the field’

“He’s a great one at helping players out on and off the field with their preparation or whether or not that’s having a yarn to them (while) walking off the field or if it’s in the meeting room and he’ll ask anyone a question and want to know the answer and he won’t walk past anything.

“He won’t, sort of leave it and go, OK, if he’s not satisfied that he hasn’t got the answer, well, he’ll make sure he’s got it.

“And I think that that’s through experience and through the resilience that he’s worked through as an All Black and as an All Black captain and he’s helped Scooter (Scott Barrett) and as I said before, he’s helped the leadership group in a lot of ways and challenging and he’s been really invaluable.

“As I said I just can’t speak highly enough about him and he’s a special man. It’s so great to see him play 100 Tests.”

READ MORE: All Blacks: Scott Robertson explains why experienced duo were included in squad for year-end tour