[ad_1]
Cane backs All Blacks rookies to shine in Bledisloe Cup final
Of all the tasks that Sam Cane must perform as captain of the All Blacks, the delivery of the first test jerseys is one of his favorites.
Cane will have that “honor” four times this week, with Akira Ioane named to start Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup clash against the Wallabies in Brisbane, while Cullen Grace, Asafo Aumua and Will Jordan will come off the bench.
“I usually leave them to do their thing during the week,” says Cane.
“[But] It is an honor for me to present the boys with their first test jersey, that is something that I find very special and I hope they will too. “
Cane added that he has full confidence in the four players who will make their debuts.
“It’s probably some of the guys who have been training better against us the last few weeks and helping us prepare for the last two games,” says Cane.
“In terms of timing, it’s great for them because they’ve figured out what the All Blacks are about and how we train and what’s required of them and now they can go out there and be themselves and play.”
Cane’s 72nd test on Saturday will be his seventh as a skipper after he was awarded the captaincy this year after a long apprenticeship with two of today’s greats Richie McCaw and Kieran Read.
The 28-year-old said that while forging his own path as a patron, he had learned from the couple.
“I think one thing that sets me apart from those two is that they always led with their actions on the field,” Cane said.
“They were both different leaders off the field, but they demanded excellence and helped create a culture of excellence.”
Cane told reporters last week that his captaincy style was fairly moderate, although he could “shoot” when he needed to lay down the law. He rarely felt the need to motivate players, he added.
“They’re putting on an All Blacks jersey,” he says.
“The motivation will be there.”
