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Sam Cane pens heartfelt message to All Blacks fans after ‘brutal’ World Cup

Sam Cane of New Zealand looks dejected as he walks past The Webb Ellis Cup with his runners up medal after defeat during the Rugby World Cup Final match between New Zealand and South Africa at Stade de France on October 28, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

All Blacks captain Sam Cane has penned a heartfelt message of support just over a week after New Zealand’s agonising defeat to rivals South Africa in the Rugby World Cup final.

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The All Blacks and captain Cane can hold their heads up high after an inspirational run at the sport’s showpiece event. New Zealand were written before the tournament, but the All Blacks are the All Blacks after all.

While New Zealand stumbled at the first hurdle against hosts France in the tournament opener, the men in black continued to work behind the scenes with their goal of World Cup glory in mind.

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After beating then-ranked World No. 1 Ireland in an incredible quarter-final, the All Blacks bested Argentina a week later to set up a date with destiny in the final.

But unfortunately for the All Blacks, they fell one point short. Captain Sam Cane was red carded midway through the first term and while the New Zealanders showed plenty of fight, the Springboks held on for a famous 12-11 win.

With the All Blacks now back home in New Zealand, and others preparing to embark on new challenges abroad, captain Cane has taken the time to thank All Blacks fans for their immense support before, during and after the World Cup.

‘It was a massive privilege to represent our country at the World Cup. It wasn’t the ending we all wanted and it’s reminded me that sport can be quite brutal at times,” Cane wrote on Facebook this week.

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“It’s hard to reflect without focusing on the final game but when able to look past that I feel lucky to have been a part of such an awesome group of people and feel pride in what we were able to overcome and achieve.

Match Summary

2
Penalty Goals
4
1
Tries
0
0
Conversions
0
0
Drop Goals
0
149
Carries
85
7
Line Breaks
4
19
Turnovers Lost
9
2
Turnovers Won
7

“The highlight for me was the support we received from home & our supporters throughout the tournament and since. It’s been truly incredible and all I can say is a big THANK YOU!”

Sam Cane is one of several All Blacks who will not play in Super Rugby Pacific next season, but that doesn’t mean his Test career is over.

Just days after the World Cup, New Zealand Rugby officially confirmed that Cane is off to Japan after taking up a sabbatical deal with Tokyo Sungoliath.

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The 95-Test veteran will still be eligible to don the famous black jersey in July as New Zealand prepares to usher in the dawn of a new era under new coach Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson.

“When the opportunity to play for Suntory in 2024 came up it felt like the right time following the Rugby World Cup to try something new and also a great chance to continue to grow and learn in my rugby and life journey,” Cane said in a statement.

“I’m grateful to New Zealand Rugby for their support to take this opportunity.

“It wasn’t an easy decision to skip a season with the Chiefs, but I know the team is in a great place and has an incredible group of leaders in the squad and the coaching group to have a successful 2024, and I’m really pleased to be able to return in time to put my best foot forward for selection in the All Blacks.”

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Comments

5 Comments
J
Jon 410 days ago

‘Dear fans, sorry I suck. best wishes, crap Richie McCaw’

  • have a sense of humour Sam

S
Shayne 412 days ago

We Should Never forget what the suits the media and Foster did to the ABs,the wrong coach the wrong openside the wrong center the wrong fallback .Hasn't this happened before?

A
Andrew 412 days ago

Time to apologise for slagging off fans last year? That had to be one of the most ill advised arrogant statements ever from an AB captain.

D
Dr A 412 days ago

19 turnovers.

19 turnovers

that’s the story.

P
Pecos 412 days ago

Oh dear. A version of the Godfather quote - “Just when you think they’re gone, the media keep pulling them back in”.

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S
SK 16 minutes ago
What is the future of rugby in 2025?

Set pieces are important and the way teams use them is a great indication of how they play the game. No team is showcasing their revolution more than the Springboks. This year they have mauled less and primarily in the attacking third. Otherwise they have tended to set like they are going to maul and then play around the corner or shove the ball out the back. They arent also hitting the crash ball carrier constantly but instead they are choosing to use their width or a big carrying forward in wider areas. While their maul is varied the scrum is still a blunt instrument winning penalties before the backs have a go. Some teams have chosen to blunt their set piece game for more control. The All Blacks are kicking more penalties and are using their powerful scrum as an attacking tool choosing that set piece as an attacking weapon. Their willingness to maul more and in different positions is also becoming more prominent. The French continue to play conservative rugby off the set piece using their big bruisers frequently. The set piece is used differently by different teams. Different teams play different ways and can be successful regardless. They can win games with little territory and possession or smash teams with plenty of both. The game of rugby is for all types and sizes and thats true in the modern era. I hope that administrators keep it that way and dont go further towards a Rugby League style situation. Some administrators are of the opinion that rugby is too slow and needs to be sped up. Why not rather empower teams to choose how they want to play and create a framework that favours neither size nor agility. That favours neither slow tempo play or rock n roll rugby. Create a game that favour both and challenge teams to execute their plans. If World Rugby can create a game like that then it will be the ultimate winner.

34 Go to comments
J
JW 5 hours ago
'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

Yep, no one knows what will happen. Thing is I think (this is me arguing a point here not a random debate with this one) they're better off trialing it now in a controlled environment than waiting to open it up in a knee jerk style reaction to a crumbling organtization and team. They can always stop it again.


The principle idea is that why would players leave just because the door is ajar?


BBBR decides to go but is not good enough to retain the jersey after doing it. NZ no longer need to do what I suggest by paying him to get back upto speed. That is solely a concept of a body that needs to do what I call pick and stick wth players. NZR can't hold onto everyone so they have to choose their BBBRs and if that player comes back from a sabbatical under par it's a priority to get him upto speed as fast as possible because half of his competition has been let go overseas because they can't hold onto them all. Changing eligibility removes that dilemma, if a BBBR isn't playing well you can be assured that someone else is (well the idea is that you can be more assured than if you only selected from domestic players).


So if someone decides they want to go overseas, they better do it with an org than is going to help improve them, otherwise theyre still basically as ineligible as if they would have been scorning a NZ Super side that would have given them the best chance to be an All Black.

147 Go to comments
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