He might be hanging up the All Blacks jersey at year’s end, but Scott Robertson has called up former captain Sam Cane for The Rugby Championship as his new skipper Scott Barrett attempts to make a speedy recovery from surgery.
Barrett had surgery on a finger following the All Blacks’ comfortable win over Fiji in San Diego and is in doubt for the home Tests against Argentina on August 10 and August 17.
With that in mind, Robertson has named Sam Darry, who made his debut against Fiji off the bench, as one of four locks in a 36-man squad with Chiefs second-rower Josh Lord on standby as injury cover.
Damian McKenzie is one of two playmakers in the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship squad. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
There is one uncapped player in the squad with Hurricanes flyer Ruben Love included for the first time.
Robertson has also called up Crusaders duo David Havili and Will Jordan, who missed the Super Rugby season because of injury.
The duo were regulars in Robertson’s Crusaders dynasty, with Jordan’s emergence at fullback pushing Havili to the midfield.
Blues halfback Finlay Christie was the biggest omission from the squad, with emerging Crusaders talent Noah Hotham, who had an impressive debut off the bench against Fiji, preferred.
But it’s the return of Cane, the veteran of 95 Tests and former No.7 and captain, that is the headline return.
Cane, 32, hasn’t played for the All Blacks since being the first player in World Cup history to be sent off in the final.
Sam Cane is in line for his first All Blacks cap since being sent off in the 2023 World Cup final against the Springboks at Stade de France on October 28, 2023 in Paris. (Photo: David Ramos, World Rugby via Getty Images)
His high shot on Jesse Kriel in the first half at the Stade de France hurt the All Blacks’ chances of claiming a fourth Webb Ellis Cup, with the Springboks claiming an epic 12-11 in late October.
Nine months later, having decided to call time on his career in Super Rugby to stick with Suntory in the Japanese League One competition, Cane is back.
With Dalton Papili’i, Ethan Blackadder and Ardie Savea in the squad, it’s unlikely that Cane will get a starting a spot against the Springboks later in The Rugby Championship.
Yet, unlike Eddie Jones who ruthlessly cut Michael Hooper adrift ahead of the World Cup last year following a calf injury, Robertson could be tempted to give him a starting berth against Argentina on home soil to allow the All Blacks great a chance to farewell New Zealand supporters.
His return also gives the All Black an important injection of experience and leadership pedigree, with the southern hemisphere heavyweights coming under more pressure than expected by England during their two-Test series earlier in July.
Indeed, the All Blacks were targeted at the lineout and their decision-making came under fire following the departures of several generational talents like Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick and Aaron Smith.
“It was a tough squad to select because everyone has owned their opportunities. Continuity is important, but it’s also important to reward performance,” Robertson said in a statement.
“Sam Cane, Will and David bring a lot of experience and leadership to the group and Ruben, Noah and Sam Darry have taken their chance in the environment.
“It will be a special moment for Ruben being selected for the first time. He’s worked hard in the background and will be ready when his opportunity comes.”
Forwards (20)
Hookers
Asafo Aumua (27 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 9)
Codie Taylor (33 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 87)
George Bell (22 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 1)
Props
Ethan De Groot (26 / Highlanders / Southland / 25)
Tyrel Lomax (28 / Hurricanes / Tasman / 34)
Fletcher Newell (24 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 16)
Pasilio Tosi (26 / Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty / 1)
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (32 / Blues / Northland / 59)
Tamaiti Williams (23 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 8)
Locks
Scott Barrett (30 / Crusaders / Taranaki / 72) (Captain)
Tupou Vaa’i (24 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 28)
Patrick Tuipulotu (31 / Blues / Auckland / 45)
Sam Darry (24 / Blues / Canterbury / 1)
Back-row
Ethan Blackadder (29 / Crusaders / Tasman / 11)
Sam Cane (32 / Chiefs / Bay of Plenty / 95)
Samipeni Finau (25 / Chiefs / Waikato / 3)
Luke Jacobson (27 / Chiefs / Waikato / 21)
Dalton Papali’i (26 / Blues / Counties Manukau / 34)
Ardie Savea (30 / Moana Pasifika / Wellington / 84) (Vice Captain)
Wallace Sititi (21 / Chiefs / North Harbour / 1)
Backs (16)
Halfback
Noah Hotham (21 / Crusaders / Tasman / 1)
TJ Perenara (32 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 81)
Cortez Ratima (23 / Chiefs / Waikato / 2)
Fly-half Beauden Barrett (33 / Blues / Taranaki / 126)
Damian McKenzie (29 / Chiefs / Waikato / 50)
Midfield
Jordie Barrett (27 / Hurricanes / Taranaki / 60) (Vice Captain)
David Havili (29 / Crusaders / Tasman / 27)
Rieko Ioane (27 / Blues / Auckland / 71)
Anton Lienert-Brown (29 / Chiefs / Waikato / 73)
Billy Proctor (25 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 1)
Outside backs
Caleb Clarke (25 / Blues / Auckland / 21)
Will Jordan (26 / Crusaders / Tasman / 31)
Ruben Love (23 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 0)*
Stephen Perofeta (27 / Blues / Taranaki / 5)
Sevu Reece (27 / Crusaders / Southland / 26)
Mark Tele’a (27 / Blues / North Harbour/ 11)
INJURY COVER: Josh Lord (23 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 4)
