Thoughts on Cane now?
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@Donsteppa McMillan might be better to either name co-captains again, or not put the pressure on Cane at the Chiefs and choose someone else. If he gets injured again you need another captain anyway.
Remember that Brewer was Mains' choice of captain in 1992 but injury changed circumstances for that team.
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@Bovidae said in Thoughts on cane now?:
@Donsteppa McMillan might be better to either name co-captains again, or not put the pressure on Cane at the Chiefs and choose someone else. If he gets injured again you need another captain anyway.
Remember that Brewer was Mains' choice of captain in 1992 but injury changed circumstances for that team.
Andy Dalton says hi
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Papalii has been excellent every time he has started at 7. Exactly the same as last year, even with having to overcome his surgery.
He starts at 7 in every significant game. Anything else would be insane. So much better than any other option in NZ.
Cane should be competing with Blackadder for a squad position.
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@Tim said in Thoughts on cane now?:
He starts at 7 in every significant game. Anything else would be insane. So much better than any other option in NZ.
so you expect fozzie to start cane then
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i fully expect Cane to start when he is fit. Because AB coaches and selectors are super conservative, and have been for a long time (far longer than Foster). Incumbency trumps everything, and players are seemingly always brought back. It also takes a huge amount for core guys to not get picked.
On one hand, this attitude has its merits. But i feel the drawback is, to be a core guy in the ABs you are going to be a pretty fucking good player, and this means you are unlikely to send in a run of absolute stinkers that force the hand. Rather there will a micro-drop off that allows you to maintain your spot, even if another guy could take us up a level.
It's the same reason i think Moody will start the first test next year despite me having to really think hard to remember he even exists.
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@mariner4life said in Thoughts on Cane now?:
i fully expect Cane to start when he is fit. Because AB coaches and selectors are super conservative, and have been for a long time (far longer than Foster). Incumbency trumps everything, and players are seemingly always brought back. It also takes a huge amount for core guys to not get picked.
On one hand, this attitude has its merits. But i feel the drawback is, to be a core guy in the ABs you are going to be a pretty fucking good player, and this means you are unlikely to send in a run of absolute stinkers that force the hand. Rather there will a micro-drop off that allows you to maintain your spot, even if another guy could take us up a level.
It's the same reason i think Moody will start the first test next year despite me having to really think hard to remember he even exists.
Funnily enough, WC years tend to bring the coaches to the point where they need to make the hard decision.
I think Moody became number one in 2015 (after not even being picked in the original squad) and Izzy Dagg overtook Mils (also at the tournament in 2011 @booboo you pedantic bastard). So, we can have some big changes, but it will be interesting to see who gets the opportunities.
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Given Cane's injury history it will probably be a mute point anyway.
I've not been a fan of SB, but that backrow balance against England was pretty damn 🤌.
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Haven’t read the thread. But freshly squeezed with white rum, line juice, soda water and mint makes a splendid mojito.
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I like Cane, I think he's a solid leader that the AB's have invested alot in. He's been brought through the grades and groomed for captaincy. He's a solid player, gives an honest effort everytime he plays.
The question is whether is he's the best 7 now in NZ? Given Dalton Papali'i form over the EOYT I would say not. If he can't command a starting place in the team then he shouldn't be captain. Harsh but the realities of professional sport. Absolutely he should be in the squad but he'll need to focus on winning his spot first.
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@TheMojoman i think especially goven how much "leadership" there will probably be between BBBR/Whitelock/smith/Savea/BB
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If next year wasn’t a RWC year then I would say play Dalton as much as possible, but I suspect that Cane’s super rugby time will be managed within the minute to give him every opportunity to get right and ready for the RWC.
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@Billy-Tell said in Thoughts on Cane now?:
Haven’t read the thread. But freshly squeezed with white rum, line juice, soda water and mint makes a splendid mojito.
I prefer just fermenting it, add some sugar & lime... lovely caipirinha.
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@Donsteppa said in Thoughts on Cane now?:
Or a different role in the squad. Cane couldn't have done any worse off the bench onto the blindside than Frizzell did yesterday.
I can never quite understand why Cane hasn't played at 6. Sure there's a reason but can't remember what it is.
Overall, I think it's horses for courses with Cane being stronger defensively than Paps with the latter being better at the breakdown
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@Victor-Meldrew said in Thoughts on Cane now?:
@Donsteppa said in Thoughts on Cane now?:
Or a different role in the squad. Cane couldn't have done any worse off the bench onto the blindside than Frizzell did yesterday.
I can never quite understand why Cane hasn't played at 6. Sure there's a reason but can't remember what it is.
Overall, I think it's horses for courses with Cane being stronger defensively than Paps with the latter being better at the breakdown
Good point. Cane isn't exactly a fetcher anymore, he is still strong in a tackle and can run the ball up. He would add to his value if he could play either spot and if one of the locks was injured or rested you could play scooter at lock with a DP Ardie Cane back row
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@canefan said in Thoughts on Cane now?:
@Victor-Meldrew said in Thoughts on Cane now?:
@Donsteppa said in Thoughts on Cane now?:
Or a different role in the squad. Cane couldn't have done any worse off the bench onto the blindside than Frizzell did yesterday.
I can never quite understand why Cane hasn't played at 6. Sure there's a reason but can't remember what it is.
Overall, I think it's horses for courses with Cane being stronger defensively than Paps with the latter being better at the breakdown
Good point. Cane isn't exactly a fetcher anymore, he is still strong in a tackle and can run the ball up. He would add to his value if he could play either spot and if one of the locks was injured or rested you could play scooter at lock with a DP Ardie Cane back row
He's a big enough hitter, has a big motor and more than mobile enough to be really effective at 6. Seems a natural move so I wonder why it just hasn't happened. Has he played there much at Super level?
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@Victor-Meldrew I think the few times at AB level they ran Cane & Savea at 6/7, it was Savea that played the 'traditional' 6 role.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in Thoughts on Cane now?:
I can never quite understand why Cane hasn't played at 6. Sure there's a reason but can't remember what it is.
Overall, I think it's horses for courses with Cane being stronger defensively than Paps with the latter being better at the breakdownI'm not sure Cane is, sometimes he misses more but his top tackles may be more
destructive yet he doesn't make as many.
Early in his AB career I think he came off bench as 6 or 8 briefly? -
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@Victor-Meldrew said in Thoughts on Cane now?:
He's a big enough hitter, has a big motor and more than mobile enough to be really effective at 6. Seems a natural move so I wonder why it just hasn't happened. Has he played there much at Super level?
He did occasionally move to no.8 for the Chiefs a few seasons ago, but I don't remember much time at 6. There were other loose forwards better suited to that role.
