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All Black veteran Cane has a chance to write a different narrative against Boks after Rugby World Cup agony

All Black veteran Cane has a chance to write a different narrative against Boks after Rugby World Cup agony
Coach Scott Robertson of New Zealand looks on during The Rugby Championship match between New Zealand All Blacks and Argentina at Eden Park on August 17, 2024 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Veteran All Black flank Sam Cane has been chosen to start against the Springboks at Ellis Park, giving him a shot at redemption.

It’s not often in life that the chance for atonement comes quickly, if at all. For All Blacks flank Sam Cane, the chance to atone for the worst night of his professional career, at least partially, has arrived.

Cane became the first man to ever be red-carded in a Rugby World Cup final when he received his marching orders against the Springboks at Stade de France last year.

A high tackle on Bok centre Jesse Kriel around the half-hour mark was probably not intentional. But it was deemed careless enough to meet the red-card threshold by the television match official in the bunker after on-field referee Wayne Barnes issued a yellow card.

Cane’s misery was compounded as he sat helplessly on the sidelines for an hour as his 14 teammates battled valiantly to perform a miracle. The ruthless Boks, though, denied them and won a fierce battle 12-11 to claim their fourth world title.



Referee Wayne Barnes shows a red card to New Zealand's Sam Cane following a review during the Rugby World Cup 2023 final match at the Stade de France in Paris, France, on 28 October 2023. (Photo: Mike Egerton\PA Wire/PA Images)



As captain, a shattered Cane fronted up in the official media conference afterwards and did his best to make sense of the night. Whether the red card was warranted or not was a moot point – it was an outcome and a scar that Cane would have to carry for the rest of his life.

In those moments after the final, and even in the weeks and months that followed, with coach Ian Foster replaced by Scott Robertson, the picture didn’t look good for Cane.

Relieved of captaincy


He had back surgery in March, and then in May 2024 Cane was formally relieved of the captaincy duties with lock Scott Barrett taking over.

Cane then confirmed he’d move to Japan for a stint in 2025, adding to the feeling that Test rugby was not in his future. It seemed his All Blacks career was over and that it would sadly end with that blemish against the Boks.

However, there might be a happy ending yet. Robertson recalled Cane to the squad for the Rugby Championship, and he now finds himself starting against the Boks at Ellis Park this weekend to earn his 97th Test cap.

Cane can never fully atone for the red card in Saint-Denis, but at least he will know it wasn’t his last act against the Springboks, either. 

Coach Scott Robertson of New Zealand looks on during The Rugby Championship match between the All Blacks and Argentina at Eden Park on 17 August 2024 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo: Hannah Peters / Getty Images)



This weekend, in a stadium that has given us so many memorable clashes between these great rivals, Cane has a chance to write a meaningful postscript to his personal rivalry with the men in green and gold.

Experience is what won him selection for the Doornfontein showdown – especially as this All Blacks team is lacking players who have participated much in South Africa. Cane has done it for more than a decade at both Super Rugby and Test level.

Dalton Papali’i, who might have started, has a thumb injury, which further enhanced the veteran’s case for inclusion this weekend.

Test veteran


“He’s (Cane) a Test veteran we need on the highveld,” Robertson said.

“All that experience and calmness. But also, really good, tough shoulders. We are excited for him. Dalton has got a bit of a thumb injury. It ruled him out. But there was not much in it. Dalton played really, really well but we just thought this was the best for this Test.

“And combinations for this Test. Ethan (Blackadder) is in great form and you have got Ardie Savea, so it is a good, balanced loose forward trio.

“To play against South Africa at Ellis Park is one of the greatest Tests you can prepare for; we will embrace the occasion,’’ Robertson added.

“We have a lot of respect for the Springboks and we are looking forward to what will be an electric atmosphere at an iconic venue.”

The All Blacks have a good record at Ellis Park, especially in recent years, winning three of the last four contests, but that is not the motivation Robertson and his men are tapping into.

Read more: ‘You have to start with unbelievable intensity’ – All Blacks braced for ‘feral’ Ellis Park reception

They are more interested in staying in the present and producing a high-quality performance against a formidable opponent. Records are not achieved through poor displays.

“What matters on Saturday is our performance because that will look after the record,” Robertson said. “It’s one of the more iconic fields, along with the whole experience, and you want as many players as possible who have experienced it before.

“It’s going to help in times of need and there are going to be some tough moments there, as we know.

“Their composure and tone of voice and the action that’s required, they’ll deliver it themselves and they know what it takes.” DM

New Zealand team:


15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams

Reserves: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Mark Tele’a