Returning All Blacks captain Cane ‘keen’ for action against Japan

Saturday, 29 October 2022 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

TOKYO, AFP: All Blacks captain Sam Cane said Friday that he was feeling fit and ready to play in this weekend’s Test against Japan in Tokyo after returning from a head injury.

Cane missed New Zealand’s pivotal Rugby Championship clash with Australia last month after failing to recover from a blow that saw him come off early in the All Blacks’ previous game against the Wallabies.

The 30-year-old loose forward is back in the starting line-up as the All Blacks prepare to kick off their northern hemisphere tour against Japan on Saturday.

Cane said he was feeling “physically very good” after taking the captain’s armband back from Sam Whitelock.

“Definitely keen and excited about playing again, although it does seem like a wee while ago, that Aussie Test,” Cane said.

“I’m just excited to be back training with the boys. We had a good camp in Nelson and then we’ve had a really solid week here too so we’re firing and ready to go.”

New Zealand head to Europe after Saturday’s game to play Wales, Scotland and England on successive Saturdays. Their game against Japan will be their first since thrashing Australia 40-14 in Auckland over a month ago to clinch the Rugby Championship title.

“We haven’t played rugby for a month or so but we felt like we’d been improving steadily each match,” said Cane.

“We just want to continue to get better and that would start with a good performance this weekend, but we know it’s going to be a tough one.”

All Blacks head coach Ian Foster has seen his touring squad depleted this week by injuries and bereavement.

Whitelock and the three Barrett brothers – Beauden, Jordie and Scott – all arrived in Japan this week too late for selection.

Cane said the All Blacks are looking to build on their Rugby Championship success after a turbulent year, and lay down a marker ahead of next year’s World Cup in France. Japan will also head to Europe after Saturday’s match to face England at Twickenham and France in Toulouse.

Japan loose forward Michael Leitch said it was “difficult to sleep” in the build-up to Saturday’s game, which will be played in a sold-out National Stadium in Tokyo.

“It’s a big match tomorrow and I want to enjoy it,” said the New Zealand-born Leitch, who Cane described as the “heart and soul” of the Japan team.

“We have power, we can score tries and we can defend. The thing we need to focus on is our game management, how high we can keep our concentration.”