Clermont v Racing 92

Japan?

If you have me driving Lewis Hamilton’s Merc, there will only be one outcome and it is most certainly the portaloo not the podium. Ill be taking the portaloo out at 300mph.

Likewise, the story of Sam Cane, the heir that never was, there are literal galaxies between him and McCaw, yet Cane was somehow, some type of ‘understudy’. He never was.

Peter summed up all our thoughts in one hit. Though Peter too will now mow lawns wondering.

Lesson 1 to NZRU, jobs for the boys will only enable substandard groupthink principles into the fold and Foster was this, stuck in hole smelling the same cheese for 15 years as a tea lady then gaffer with zero notable achievements.

Lesson 2 to NZRU, appointing the ‘right face’ for marketing purposes aka Cane would always end up in the way it did and it could not end in a more worse way for Cane with what happened in the final, why? He should never, ever have been there.

I shall join Peter on lawn mowing detail (with my 3 world cups though).

😀

Give Cane and others a break and get talented youngsters in over the next 2 years. Anyone anywhere in the world worthy of the black jersey should be in the squad in 2025 and 2026.

Change selection policy by 2025 to open that pool to overseas based players earning Euros and Pounds. Let them sharpen up in the European cups while the youngsters cut their teeth back home and in SR. Everyone wins.

Basically, copy what SA did NZ and don’t be shy about it. You’ll be unstoppable if you do, stagnant if you don’t.

What a lode of rubbish, it's crap like this that has helped prop up Foster’s last 4 years. Reminds me of the story of the emperor with no clothes on.I feel sorry for Cane to many knocks, their are at least 4 open siders in NZ better than him .I hope Reiko goes overseas too.

So the All Blacks has launch appeal in their final with Springbok, just wondering what are they expecting the outcome of that appeal would be? A reply? Or hand the Cup to them? I reckoned they’re bad losers, probably they got advice from Tom Curry

He looks like a guy that needs a mental break. Good on him, should come back refreshed like D Mac

Cane has a sabbatical option built into his contract for the beginning of 2024 which he would have no doubt been looking to exercise if everything had gone to plan at the World Cup but he might have slight reservations around taking time off from rugby in New Zealand given how things have unfolded in the past month.
Unfortunately you just missed it the timing of this article Tom. He has taken up that contract and I can only believe he has given up on the dream. At least so soon after that loss. I had the same thoughts as these though, get back on that horse, win Super Rugby, win that starting jersey for the All Blacks, and take a series win over South Africa at home, and have a good break after that. He’s deserved what every outcome he wants though. Was very depressing the clip Steven Donald did where he said it was the worst experience being in New Zealand before he got his chance to turn his story around in the 2011 World Cup. I hope Cane can still be given such a chance in the Rugby Championship next year but it is hard to see with so many good players having been on his heels for a long time now.

Really hoping NZR and SARU can organise a third game next year.

Once again Vinicombe makes a very bold prediction with no evidence to sustain it. God knows who will be playing at number 7 in 4 years time.

Ardie Savea (also on sabbatical) and Dalton Papali’i could both be preferred, with the latter a near certainty to make the next World Cup in 2027.

Nah he won’t be captain. He’s Foster’s boy and carries too much baggage from what was ultimately a fairly unsuccessful reign. He’ll be no spring chicken by the time the next WC comes about, there might be others with more upside.

Yes, true, Cane didn’t have a “pivotal” role at RWC2015, 11 mins v France in 1/4s, 13 mins v Boks in semis (where he promptly dropped a sitter pass from SBW with a try beckoning) & 1 min v Wallabies in final to allow a Richie McCaw standing ovation departure. Not much has changed since then.

For me Cane's main issue with captaincy has been his absence through injury for nearly half of the 46 tests under Foster. It’s impossible to build a constant & consistent onfield leadership model over time if you’re not there. Nevermind filling McCaw’s unfillable boots, Cane couldn’t even fill his own half the time.

A great number #7 when available & injury free but we never saw it peak until the Ireland 1/4 final. Cane wasn’t ONE of the best on the paddock, he was THE best by far in my opinion, especially as skipper. The sight of him getting alongside Frizzell after his stupid penalty was a great moment. Unfortunately such test performances by Cane were the exception not the benchmark.

I think Razor will go for World Rugby POTY Ardie for skipper, & Cane will be left to compete for #7, subject to availability. Scooter will also be in the mix for skipper. Both he & Ardie will be 33 at the start of RWC2027.