All Blacks flanker and former captain Sam Cane is proof of the physical and mental demands in reaching the milestone of playing 100 Test matches for New Zealand.
Should he take the field for Saturday’s last Lipovitan D Rugby Championship game of the season and last home Test against Australia, he will join 12 others to have reached triple figures.
But few would claim to have endured as much as Cane in achieving the feat.
The All Blacks’ 100 Tests club is Sam Whitelock (153), Richie McCaw (148), Keven Mealamu (132), Beauden Barrett (130), Kieran Read (127), Aaron Smith (125), Tony Woodcock (118), Dan Carter (112), Brodie Retallick (109), Owen Franks (108), Ma’a Nonu (103), Mils Muliana (100).
Significantly, only McCaw and Read represent loose forwards, the players most often caught in compromising positions exposing them to injury in the way modern rugby is played.
Even playing this season was an issue for him.
“At the start of the year [there was] a little bit of uncertainty around where my body was at, and what the year looked like with the changes from a coaching point of view and where they wanted to go.
“I took the mindset at the start of the season that I would do everything to get my body in good shape and give myself the best chance to play.”
Whether that was with his home province, Bay of Plenty, in the Bunnings NPC or New Zealand, he intended to enjoy his last season in this country.
“As it’s turned out I managed to get a few Test matches under the belt which has been super special and I’ve appreciated every opportunity I’ve had.”
Cane said coming into Test rugby as a 20-year-old not knowing much to now being 32 and consistently learning and evolving was something he enjoyed.
“Rugby’s a good teacher of life and resilience.
“The ups and downs, you just have to pick yourself up and carry on. All those different challenges have tested my resilience at times.
“But I’ve been able to keep things in perspective and I’m grateful for the opportunities rugby’s given me on the field, but also the opportunity to grow up as a man.”
Having signed up to play for three years in Japan for the Suntory club, Cane knows that the Wellington Test could also be his last if he is not selected for the All Blacks’ northern tour.
“I don’t have any expectations. Part of being an All Black for a long time is that it is pretty risky territory to get into, having expectations of the team and the jersey. Nothing’s ever given or promised, you’ve got to earn it. I honestly haven’t really thought about the end-of-year tour.
“If I’m picked, and they see value in having me there, then I’d love to continue representing the All Blacks throughout the rest of the year, but like I said, I have no expectations.”
If selected for Wellington’s Test, he is keen to end the lack of success at SKY Stadium since 2018. He said that issue hadn’t been realised until it was talked about in the media earlier in the year.
“We’ve touched on it this week and we’re pretty excited about the opportunity to hopefully sort that out and put a really awesome performance out there we can be proud of.”
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