‘Very valuable All Black’ Sam Cane earns high praise from ex-New Zealand coach
All Blacks flanker San Cane and ex-New Zealand coach Laurie Mains.
Former All Blacks head coach Laurie Mains has hailed centurion Sam Cane after the experienced back-row made his final Test appearance against Italy at the weekend.
Cane received a round of applause from spectators and the All Blacks’ backroom staff and replacements as he left the field in the 67th minute of New Zealand’s 29-11 victory in Turin on Saturday.
The 32-year-old, who was replaced by Peter Lakai at the Allianz Stadium, has had a decorated international career as he retired with 104 Test appearances after making his All Blacks debut against Ireland in 2012, and was part of New Zealand’s triumphant 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign in England.
Big boots to fill
Despite his impressive stint as an international player, Cane has received plenty of criticism during his 12-year career in the Test arena with his detractors inevitably comparing him with the man he replaced as the All Blacks’ first choice openside flanker, Richie McCaw.
Cane, who also captained his country from 2020 to 2023, is set to further his career with Japanese Rugby League One outfit Suntory Sungoliath after agreeing terms on a three-year deal.
Apart from all his highs as a Test player, Cane has also endured several lows. Two of his biggest setbacks were the broken neck he sustained while in action against the Springboks during a Rugby Championship Test in Pretoria and being red carded in last year’s Rugby World Cup final against the same opposition in Paris.
And Mains believes Cane’s ability to bounce back from adversity makes him a special All Black.
“Look, I’m an admirer of Sam Cane. He’s been one of the grittiest and toughest rugby players that the All Blacks have had. And he could never, ever be accused of not giving a rugby match everything that he’s got,” he told The Platform.
“He’s been a very valuable All Black. Maybe his actual playing was affected a little bit by being captain. I think he’s come back on this tour very, very well.
“I think he’s played an important role for the All Blacks on this tour. So I’m not one that would be critical of Sam Cane in any way at all.”
Mains, who coached the All Blacks from 1992 to 1995, also singled Cane’s back-row partners Wallace Sititi and Ardie Savea out for special praise after they also shone for the three-time world champions in 2024.
Mains was particularly impressed by Sititi, who was recently named as World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year after taking to the international arena like the proverbial duck to water.
‘He had a strong, super season’
“I think he’s been fantastic. He’s had a strong, super season,” said the 78-year-old, who also represented the All Blacks at full-back in 15 Tests between 1971 and 1976.
“I wasn’t sure how well he would take the step up. But he put that concern to bed very early on in his Test career. And he’s had a great year.
You know, he reminds me of Ardie Savea going back.”
Savea was crowned as World Rugby’s Player of the Year in 2023 but lost that title to Springboks back-row Pieter-Steph du Toit this year. Despite that, Mains is still a big fan of the All Blacks loose forward.
“Ardie Savea, if he’s not the best rugby player in the world, he’s got to be very close to it,” he added.
