By Greg Stutchbury
WELLINGTON May 29 (Reuters) – Loose forward Sam Cane and
flyhalf Aaron Cruden have possibly the most unenviable roles in
world rugby. Understudies to All Black captain Richie McCaw and
record points scorer Daniel Carter.
And neither of the veteran players appears to be going away
in a hurry as both McCaw and Carter signed four-year contracts
with the New Zealand Rugby Union until 2015.
Father Time, however, may catch up with the pair before the
next World Cup in England, with the 31-year-old McCaw suffering
problems with his feet for the best part of two years and the
30-year-old Carter having his World Cup ended by a torn groin.
The injuries reminded the rugby mad nation that both were
indeed fallible and just a bad tackle, overstretched muscle, or
twisted knee, away from the end of their careers.
As such, the uncapped 20-year-old Cane was brought into an
extended 35-man All Blacks squad for two training camps ahead of
their tests against Ireland and seemingly anointed by new coach
Steve Hansen as McCaw’s long-term successor.
Not that the flanker is getting too far ahead of himself at
the prospects of filling McCaw’s size 12 boots just yet.
“Pushing for a spot? He’s the captain mate”, Cane said with
a grin when asked on Tuesday of his chances of making the test
squad for the matches against Ireland next month.
“All I will be doing is pushing to get named in the squad,
then its about pushing for the final 22.”
Continued…
