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All Blacks captain Sam Cane set for short stint abroad – report
By Finn Morton
All Blacks captain Sam Cane is expected to miss the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific campaign with the Chiefs after taking up a sabbatical in Japan, according to a report out of New Zealand.
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Stuff has revealed that Cane, who captained the All Blacks in last weekend’s Rugby World Cup final at Stade de France, is set for a short stint abroad after inking a deal with Tokyo Sungoliath.
Cane could potentially pack down in a backrow alongside former Wallabies enforcer Sean McMahon, and join Wales’ Gareth Anscombe and two-time World Cup-winning Springbok Cheslin Kolbe in the team.
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In a boost to the All Blacks as they prepare to embark on their new era under coach Scott Robertson, Cane will be available for selection ahead of the July internationals.
When captain Cane re-signed with New Zealand Rugby in December 2021, there was a clause in his contract that allowed the openside flanker to exercise a sabbatical after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
“The amount of rugby I’ve played the last three years, between two injuries and the Covid year, I’m feeling pretty good,” Cane said, as reported by Stuff’s Marc Hinton at the time.
“At this stage I’d be learning to not using it or just going back late to Super Rugby, but won’t make that decision tilly early ’23.”
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This news makes the re-signing announcement of loose forward Luke Jacobson that much more important for the Chiefs.
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Harbouring genuine title ambitions after losing last year’s final to the Crusaders at home, the Chiefs’ backrow stocks have already taken a hit. Former All Black Pita Gus Sowakula signed a two-year deal with Clermont.
In the absence of Cane and Sowakula, Jacobson will become the most important backrower at the Chiefs. Jacobson was selected in the All Blacks’ Rugby World Cup squad after starting 13 Super Rugby Pacific games for the Chiefs last season.
“I’m stoked to sign on with the Chiefs, Waikato Rugby, and NZR for another two years,” Jacobson said in a statement.
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“I love representing these teams and am very proud to be able to call myself a Waikato/Chiefs man and also and All Black. I’m hungry to succeed with these teams and tick off a few unticked boxes.”
The curious thing about Cane is that he was never a good enough player to hold down the 7 jersey in black. But with Foster nailing his colours to the mast, and appointing Cane as skipper, he was then an automatic selection. That positionally unbalanced the team. Under Razor there are no such guarantees and the likelihood is Cane may not make the squad. We need a dedicated 7 with ball winning skills as well as defensive skills. Cane has never been a turnover specialist so sayonara Sam. Enjoy Japan.
That’s really unfortunate. Only way I could have seen Cane coming back in was a redemption story with the Chiefs next year, and I really wanted him back in black. Wish he had of taken it next year, would have been better for him too I believe but accept it has been a tough situation.
I can imagine Razor has given him the nod, but myself, I can’t seem him back given the next crop a sniff like that. Jacobson is one of many 7’s in NZ I can see taking this chance to make that jersey their own. Do like the idea of now giving Vaa’i a full year at blindside though.