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'Proud is an understatement, mate': Cane reacts to All Blacks win

(Photo by Phill Magakoe/AFP via Getty Images)

Sam Cane was left beaming with pride in Johannesburg after the All Blacks upset the odds to defeat the Springboks 35-23 in Saturday’s round two Rugby Championship match. New Zealand came into the fixture with their backs to wall following the loss of five of their last six matches.

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Just a week ago they were defeated 10-26 by the Springboks in Mbombela and there were fears that another heavy beating was on the cards for Ian Foster’s team. However, Cane insisted in his post-game flash interview last weekend that only “small margins” needed to be fixed for the All Blacks to get things right and he was proven right at Emirates Airlines Park.

“Proud is an understatement, mate,” he told SuperSport in his post-game sideline interview following the win that allowed the All Blacks to retain the Freedom Cup and pierce the massive pressure that had built up around them.

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“Through adversity, it really challenges your character and this group has got plenty of character. It’s never been a question of how much we care or how much we want it. We just needed to get a few parts of our game right and yeah, a massive challenge coming here, one of the toughest places in the world to play and the group stepped up massively.

“Hugely proud. I’d just like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has been supporting us, particularly the last month which has been pretty challenging. We feel all that support and jeez, it means a lot.”

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Asked what the difference was between their round two performance and what materialised in last weekend’s round one loss, captain Cane added: “Look, we were a lot better at the breakdown tonight and we dealt with the box kicks, the contestables, a lot better.

“Set-piece was good, we defended the maul really well so lots of little parts of our game which is what Test footy is about, getting little parts of your game right time and time angina so you can build some pressure. Massively stoked.”

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Chris 811 days ago

As a South African, nothing but huge respect ✊. Most teams would have folded yesterday. They showed the world that they are still the All Blacks and not a team to be taken lightly. Epic test match!

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AM 41 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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