All Blacks legend’s Ardie Savea prediction set to come to fruition following Sam Cane’s ‘genuine deep cut’
All Blacks back-rowers Ardie Savea and Sam Cane in 2024.
The All Blacks will be without Sam Cane and Mark Tele’a for their clash with France this weekend after they both suffered injuries.
Cane, who is in his final year of Test rugby, will miss the match because of a head injury as he sustained a nasty cut in the 23-13 victory over Ireland.
New Zealand will also be without Tele’a in Paris after scans showed that he had picked up a hand injury in Dublin on Friday.
As a result, Scott Robertson has called up Du’Plessis Kirifi and Chay Fihaki as cover, while Fabian Holland has also joined the squad following Sam Darry’s knee injury.
“The doctor had a hell of a job, it was a genuine deep cut,” All Blacks boss Robertson said in reference to Cane’s injury.
International retirement
Cane announced that 2024 would be his last in Test rugby, but hopefully the flanker still has one final match to say goodbye properly when they face Italy in their last game of the year.
If not then the great back-rower will help prepare his team-mates for the challenges to come against France and the Azzurri.
“It’s next man in though, we back our squad and we’ve got no doubt that whoever comes in will do a great job,” forwards coach Jason Ryan said.
“But Sam has been immense, he’s been exceptional, really, on the field. But he’ll lead in a different way next week.”
Cane’s absence is a significant blow for the All Blacks, who are already without Dalton Papali’i, Luke Jacobson and Ethan Blackadder due to injury.
They are therefore severely depleted in the back-row. That means Robertson could well finally shift Ardie Savea to openside in what would be a popular call with fans and pundits alike.
The All Blacks head coach could be reluctant to change what has worked against England and Ireland but, with the inexperienced Peter Lakai and Kirifi their only other out-and-out options at seven, shifting Savea would make more sense.
Should that be the case, breakout star Wallace Sititi will likely move to number eight – the position he plays for the Chiefs in Super Rugby Pacific – with Samipeni Finau potentially coming in at blindside.
Robertson could also switch captain Scott Barrett from lock, something which might be tempting given the size of that French pack, and that would enable Patrick Tuipulotu and Tupou Vaa’i to combine in the second-row.
But it is the possible decision to shift Savea that would excite the supporters, as well as former players, who have been calling for it.
All Blacks legend Jeff Wilson claimed that Robertson has been eyeing that move for 2025 due to Cane’s impending retirement, with Savea’s role changing slightly since Sititi’s introduction, but it could now be tried out earlier.
‘Playing more like a seven’
“I anticipate next year that Ardie Savea will be our starting number seven at Test match level, that’s the feeling I get, the sense I get,” Wilson said ahead of New Zealand’s northern hemisphere tour.
“Even at the moment, he’s playing a little bit more like a seven. You watch him, his defence is really good, getting in over the ball again – I really like what he’s doing.”
Despite the loss of Cane, there has been more positive news for New Zealand with Codie Taylor and Beauden Barrett both completing their return-to-play protocols.
Taylor and Barrett missed the encounter with Ireland but they will be in contention for selection as the All Blacks look to make it four from four in the north.
“I think the front-row selections are the toughest I’ve ever had in my coaching career with the competition that’s out there,” Ryan said.
“That’s a credit to all the boys, I’m not going to name names, but they’re all working extremely hard and it makes for some tough conversations the next couple of days.”
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