- Title: Cane comfortable leading new-look All Blacks against Italy
- Date: 11th November 2016
- Summary: ROME, ITALY (NOVEMBER 11, 2016) (REUTERS) NEW ZEALAND PLAYERS AT CAPTAIN'S RUN SESSION AT ROME'S OLYMPIC STADIUM HEAD COACH STEVE HANSEN AND (LEFT OF SCREEN) AND ASSISTANT COACH - FORWARDS, MIKE CRON, LOOKING ON CAPTAIN KIERAN READ WITH BALL IN HAND, LOOKING ON FORWARD BEAUDEN BARRETT RUNNING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALL BLACKS STAND-IN CAPTAIN SAM CANE SAYING: "When we got here late Monday, I was thinking man, if we could skip it would be good to have that extra day, but because we've had to assemble and prep practise week in this time-frame a few times this year we've got a pretty good structure in place in terms of nailing Tuesday and then the rest of the week is as normal. I think it's great because of the guys are selected are pretty excited about the opportunity. Just judging by the preparation they are not really leaving any stone unturned because they want to take this chance with both hands. That's the same attitude that I'm taking so hopefully if things go to plan we'll see a good game out there tomorrow." VARIOUS OF WINGER JULIAN SAVEA WALKING ON PITCH FORWARD DAN COLES LOOKING ON AND CLAPPING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALL BLACKS STAND-IN CAPTAIN SAM CANE SAYING: "We've touched on as much as we can while realising it's almost a whole new team that we're running out and obviously a different opposition but it's important that we get this right because a lot of the areas that Ireland threatened and almost exposed us I suppose are the strengths of Italy's as well so we need to nail for those." PLAYERS ON PITCH / PLAYER LIFTING ANOTHER UP BEAUDEN BARRETT LOOKING AT COACHING STAFF MEMBER'S MOBILE PHONE AND KICKING BALL (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALL BLACKS STAND-IN CAPTAIN SAM CANE SAYING: "We haven't talked about Kiwi athletes, we've focused a lot on our stuff but we've had made a special mention of Armistice Day, you know a lot of the Kiwis that have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can live the lives we do today so we'll be wearing that poppy on our sleeve as well so it's pretty important that we've got an understanding of that." ARDIE SAVEA PLAYERS TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALL BLACKS STAND-IN CAPTAIN SAM CANE SAYING: "I remember the crowd being deafening when Italy scored a try right down there on the left hand side of the upright. Yeah, awesome experience, cool to be back here, sort of in a different position four years on." LIMA SOPOAGA KICKING BALL PLAYERS ON PITCH SAMUEL WHITELOCK WALKING ON PITCH PLAYERS ON PITCH
- Embargoed: 26th November 2016 19:00
- Keywords: Rugby All Blacks New Zealand Captain's Run Sam Cane Italy Rome
- Location: ROME, ITALY
- City: ROME, ITALY
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Rugby Union,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0015802TZ3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Stand-in captain Sam Cane feels comfortable leading New Zealand against Italy on Saturday (November 12) even though he has done it only once before and has a relatively inexperienced line-up as the world champions look to bounce back from a rare defeat.
Cane will lead the team out into Rome's Stadio Olimpico in place of Kieran Read who is being rested along with several other established players for a test that no one, not even Italy, expect the All Blacks to lose.
But some New Zealand fans remain nervous about another poor performance after Ireland beat the world champions for the first time in 111 years a week ago to end the All Blacks' record 18-match winning streak.
"When we got here late Monday, I was thinking man, if we could skip it would be good to have an extra day but because we've had to assemble and prep practise week in this timeframe a few times this year we've got a pretty good structure in place around nailing Tuesday and then the rest of the week is as normal. I think it's great because of the guys are selected are pretty excited about the opportunity. Just judging by the preparation they are not really leaving any stone unturned because they want to take this chance with both hands. That's the same attitude that I'm taking so hopefully if things go to plan we'll see a good game out there tomorrow," Cane told reporters during the Captain's Run session at the Olympic Stadium on Friday (November 11).
Many young players are taking up key positions under Cane's charge, with two likely debutants starting on the bench. Other stalwarts sitting the game out are fullback Ben Smith and winger Julian Savea.
"We've touched on as much as we can while realising it's almost a whole new team that we're running out and obviously a different opposition but it's important that we get this right because a lot of the areas that Ireland threatened and almost exposed us I suppose are the strengths of Italy's as well so we need to nail for those," the flanker said.
In Cane's debut as captain, during the pool stages of last year's World Cup, New Zealand rested many big names and performed relatively poorly against lowly Namibia, although they still won 58-14 and went on to lift the trophy.
Cane said the team's preparations had also included a special thought for fallen soldiers from New Zealand who died in World War I.
"We haven't talked about Kiwi athletes, we've focused a lot on our stuff but we've had made a special mention of Armistice Day, you know a lot of the Kiwis that have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can live the lives we do today so we are wearing that poppy on our sleeve as well so it's pretty important that we've got an understanding of that," he said.
Returning to the Olympic Stadium brought back good memories of his first visit to Rome as a young beginner, Cane said.
"I remember the crowd being deafening when Italy scored a try right down there on the left hand side of the upright. Yeah, awesome experience, cool to be back here, sort of in a different position four years on," Cane said.
Italy, ranked 13th in the world and holders of the Six Nations wooden spoon, are given no hope of repeating Ireland's feat but the All Blacks will be taking no chances. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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