All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw says Sam Cane deserves his shot in the No 7 jersey.
McCaw will wear the All Blacks No 6 jersey for the first time when he takes the field against Scotland at Murrayfield tomorrow, allowing Cane to play at openside where McCaw has played the vast majority of his 135 tests.
"It's good to see him get a crack," McCaw said today. "Each time he's had a crack this year off the bench he's done a good job. He deserves to have a go and I'm thankful I get to have a go as well.
"He's a good man to have in the team. To be only in his third season he's got a pretty mature head on him so hopefully the three of us with Victor [Vito] can do the job well."
McCaw said he wouldn't be changing the way he plays too much.
"Obviously there are roles which are different, like in lineouts, but throughout the year with Sam coming off the bench on occasion I've slipped back to No 6 so I'm aware of those roles. You don't want to approach it too differently.
"I'm excited about having a crack there and hopefully I'll do it well."
McCaw and the team perused the stadium this morning at the captain's run, with the new pitch looking extremely hard and fast despite a heavy downpour earlier in the day.
Scotland will be wearing their alternate orange strip, with the All Blacks in their traditional black for the test which kicks off at 6.30am tomorrow NZT.