Cane prepared to bide his time

Sam Cane is as realistic as he is resolute.

So for the experienced All Blacks flanker, and 2020 captain, his mindset has shifted to the final fortnight of this tour, by which time he hopes to be knocking loudly on the door of test selection.

Cane yesterday revealed a planned timeline between he and coach Ian Foster that has him regrouping following his return to test footy via a half-hour off the bench in the 104-14 romp over the US in Washington DC at the weekend.

By his own admission, Cane is still not ready for a full-blown test against a tier-1 nation, such as this weekend’s clash against Wales at a sold-out Principality Stadium in Cardiff, after a sixmonth rehabilitation from shoulder surgery to repair a pectoral muscle tear.

But he hopes the next fortnight will nudge him close enough for the selectors to at least have something to think about ahead of a brutal finish against Ireland in Dublin (November 13) and France in Paris (November 20).

‘‘I’m not sure myself or Foz [coach Ian Foster] know the answer to that directly,’’ said Cane when asked when he hoped to have his body back to 100 per cent. ‘‘It will be more a wait and see. We’ve made a plan to reassess after the Italy game around how things are trucking and how we’ve improved.

‘‘There have been no expectations or pressure around having to be at this level by this stage.’’

Cane told Stuff he had a realistic mindset after managing only 57 minutes of Heartland rugby before leaving New Zealand to rejoin the All Blacks in the US.

‘‘For people expecting I’d come in and push for a starting spot straight off the bat, they probably don’t appreciate how tough test match footy is,’’ reflected the 75-test veteran.

‘‘I’m not quite in good enough shape or sharp enough to be playing test match footy right now. My mindset is similar to when I first made the squad and knew I was going to get bugger-all game-time – to target each day and try to be a better player by the end of the week. Hopefully, I’ll get up to speed reasonably quickly.

‘‘But there is no pressure from the coaches to take up immediately where I left up. As long as I’m improving every week, hopefully I will get some game-time at some point, and just go from there based off merit.’’

But the 29-year-old, who was Foster’s first captain in 2020, is only energised by the challenge of battling his way back into the mix, with Dalton Papalii and Ardie Savea carrying the load at No 7 in his absence.

‘‘It’s a good challenge,’’ he said. ‘‘I’m loving being back in the environment, with the high standards, the training level and intensity. It’s just about making sure I can get my body back there to doing it as quick as possible.’’

Cane had kept the anxieties at bay for his return against the US and was guardedly optimistic about an outing he enjoyed immensely, but which laid bare his shortcomings.

‘‘I was strangely calm leading up to the game, and just enjoyed it and trusted my rugby ability from years gone by. In reviewing the game there were areas of rust with a wee bit of timing, but my feeling was [just] pride in being able to pull the jersey on again.

‘‘You never take it for granted . . . but you appreciate it a bit more just knowing how much hard work has gone into getting back there. I loved it. The lungs and legs got a workout.’’

Cane also ticked off the captaincy being handed to Sam Whitelock for the tour. Commonsense, was the gist of his appraisal.

‘‘It’s nice to focus on getting back to a high level of performing without that leadership responsibility. It didn’t make sense when I haven’t got my own game where I need it first. But I still chip in and help out where I can – I love this team and care about it, and just want to see it do well.’’

He also revealed he had developed a love for ‘‘campervanning’’ during his time off (via a trip round the South Island), that his golf game had suffered a serious setback and that he had also started studying towards a diploma in Agri-business.

But one abiding ambition drove him through the long rehab process.

‘‘I loved last year. It was challenging with Covid but to be named skipper and then having one of my better years in the All Blacks jersey was really pleasing. It felt like a cruel time to pick up the injury . . . it’s been a difficult challenge to get back here and it’s an absolute bonus to finish the year as part of this squad.’’

Brodie Retallick accepts a lack of technique and attitude contributed to the All Blacks’ lineout drives being reduced to a pop-gun strategy when the Springboks snapped their winning run on October 2.

The All Blacks’ attempts to score tries off attacking setpieces were nullified by the gritty Springboks forwards during their 31-29 win on the Gold Coast, and Wales coach Wayne Pivac will have taken note ahead of Sunday morning’s test in Cardiff.

The loss, their first of the season, stung the All Blacks and although a second-string side blitzed the United States 104-14 in Washington DC last weekend that’s likely to have been cold comfort for Retallick.

He, like most of the forward pack who started against the Springboks, didn’t play the US. Instead they will have spent the last three weeks stewing on the defeat in the final round of the Rugby Championship and been trying to correct the issues that led to the mauls off the lineouts being ineffective.

‘‘Some of our technique was pretty average, and our attitude, there,’’ Retallick admitted.

‘‘We probably went away from a little bit of focus at training and stuff, leading into those weeks – not using that as an excuse.

‘‘We have put some real work into it in the last couple [of weeks].’’

Having received a scare in Townsville the previous week, when several attacking lineout drives were splintered and a late Jordie Barrett penalty was needed for a 19-17 win, the All Blacks failed to come up with a plan in the re-match a week later.

Wales, given they have one of the best defensive lineout jumpers in the world in captain Alun Wyn Jones, are sure to have pored over footage of those contests in an attempt to replicate the Springboks’ successes at Principality Stadium.

Retallick said it was vital for the All Blacks to rectify the issues during the four-match northern tour, noting that if conditions are wet they may be forced to kick more for the corners to trap their opponents deep in their own half.

The revenue-sharing match in Cardiff, which is expected to reap NZ Rugby several million dollars,