Sam Cane - All Blacks Captain
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I think Tana's worth only really shone through when he became captain.
As you say he was overshadowed by some of the best players ever but was really only a hairs breadth behind them.
79 games in black across 4 positions, played well in all of them, Captained a series win against the Lions, scored 37 tries despite having Lomu, Cullen, Wilson, Rok and Howlett on the field with him.
Don't forget his defensive work either. Laid down the blueprint for every back to follow in an expectation to not only organise and tackle but to play like a flanker once the tackle was made. No coach came up with that. Tana's tenacity did.
It was that second Lions test that was the making of his real legacy though IMO. First PI captain, under the pump from all quarters. Showed everyone, including players to come that an AB jersey is something to stand up for. I don't think it is a stretch to say that his actions and behaviour as an AB captain added a lot to a greater acceptance of the PI population and contribution to NZ. Showed that they aren't just an add on part, but are proud kiwis as well.
I will never forget him leading the first ever showing of Kapa O Pango. Passion like I've never seen from an AB captain before.
He is up there easily on my list of all-time favourite ABs and (without working out a list) must easily be in a top 20 AB greats list.
One of our best.Oh, and he coached Counties to their first ever Shield
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@ACT-Crusader neither do I and thankfully Plumtree isn’t that sort of bloke, but he is the sort of bloke that will reward effort and form and that will play into Ardie’s hands after his performances last year. That, and the fact we have no real other world-class options in the loosies, other than Cane.
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I would think that the selectors would have been enjoying what Boshier was showing. Not just on a skill and energy level but the way that he consistently comes up with big plays at critical moments. The tougher the situation the more he seemed to focus. That is a great attribute for test rugby and something that GOAT had.
Unfortunately I can't see him being in the plans as a 6. They will want a bit more size and dominance there. -
@Crucial I was a big fan of Boshier before this break, he was probably the form forward of the comp. Certainly showed what he is capable of and I would certainly have him in contention - maybe first reserve if Cane or Savea go down.
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@Toddy said in Sam Cane - All Blacks Captain:
The one who stands off the ruck looking for the turnover while Cane makes a sh*tload of tackles to compensate?
swap Cane for an Aussie, and that's Pocock
But in fairness, I think Boshier did more around the paddock too (without watching him too closely)
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Boshier has had more turnovers than a bakery this year. Maybe that's the role the Chiefs want him to play.
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@Canes4life said in Sam Cane - All Blacks Captain:
Boshier has had more turnovers than a bakery this year. Maybe that's the role the Chiefs want him to play.
you should be writing for a major paper with lines like that
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@nzzp said in Sam Cane - All Blacks Captain:
@Canes4life said in Sam Cane - All Blacks Captain:
Boshier has had more turnovers than a bakery this year. Maybe that's the role the Chiefs want him to play.
you should be writing for a major paper with lines like that
It would sound terrific coming out of the late great Bill McLarens mouth.
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@Canes4life said in Sam Cane - All Blacks Captain:
Boshier has had more turnovers than a bakery this year. Maybe that's the role the Chiefs want him to play.
I think it is a changeable role based on the situation. Certainly the have a one-two punch going. If they can work out on the fly for one to track the other and time a jackal that is great.
The Pocock way was just to hang around. Boshier does the work when required as well. That's why his turnovers seem to be mainly at critical times. He swaps into that role when they need a turnover to shut down danger or are under pressure. -
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@Stargazer Christie was getting through a truckload of work, I wonder if he could have kept that up over the season?
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@Stargazer said in Sam Cane - All Blacks Captain:
@Nepia Yeah, I guess we'll have to wait a while to find out. He seems to have a big engine, but Billy Harmon had just returned from injury, so they might have started rotating them more if the comp had continued.
His turnaround in form from last year was quite impressive. Seems like Razor gave him the confidence to go out and play this year.
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@Stargazer said in Sam Cane - All Blacks Captain:
@Nepia Last year? This is Christie's first SR season. Or do you mean Mitre 10 Cup?
NPC and U20s.
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@Nepia Yeah, he wasn't very inspiring during the 2018 JWC, but I'm convinced that Phillpott isn't capable of getting the best out of players. The same probably applies to Joe Maddock at Canterbury.
Can't wait to see how many of NZ's rookies progress over the next few years.
Obviously I'm biased, but I expect Devan Flanders to be in the flankers mix, too, in the near future. He needs to keep Prinsep out of the Canes' 6 jersey first though. -
@Stargazer Do you see Flanders as a 6 or an 8 at this stage?
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@KiwiMurph I think he's a number 8, who plays very well at 6, but his path is blocked by Evans for the 8 jersey, both at the Canes and the Magpies. But even if Evans moves to 7 in the absence of O'Connor for the Magpies, I think Mikaele-Tu'u is also more of a no. 8 than a 6, so probably Flanders' immediate future will be at 6.
Having said that, I noticed during several Hurricanes' games that Flanders was regularly at the back of the scrum, with Evans moving to blindside.
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@KiwiMurph said in Sam Cane - All Blacks Captain:
@Stargazer Do you see Flanders as a 6 or an 8 at this stage?
He's been more of an 8 but the Magpies have Evans and Mikaele Tu'u on their books at 8 so he could make the move to 6. I think he's got the skills and motor for it.
EDit: @Stargazer beat me to it.
