Don't build Cane up just yet

Sports journos have a licence to kill.

One day they can laud a player as the best thing since sliced bread, the next they can cut him (or her) down with similarly gay abandon.

That's why I feel sorry for a young fellow by the name of Sam Cane who had his first run-on start for the All Blacks in their 60-0 blitzing of the Irish in Hamilton on Saturday.

Yes, Cane was one of the standouts in what was an impressive AB performance against opposition who were shown to be what they really are, a gutsy lot never short of passion but rather limited in terms of class.

Problem for Cane is that so well did he perform that suddenly he has become the "new Richie McCaw".

Frankly that is praise he can well do without.

AB skipper McCaw has been the best openside flanker in the world for what seems like a lifetime, and very probably still is. In fact, there is little doubt he would have been wearing Cane's No 7 jersey in Hamilton had he not been moved to the back row to cover for the injured Kieran Read.

Cane has a long, long way to go before he can be mentioned in the same breath as McCaw let alone rated as his equal.

Up against a team of Ireland's calibre and with the ABs as a unit performing so impressively Cane simply had to shine. It is a loose forward's dream when their team is constantly on the front foot.

And, all credit to him, he took full advantage of the opportunity to demonstrate he seems to have the aggression, speed and positional sense to become a very significant contributor to the ABs fortunes over the next few years.

Whether that is the case will only be discovered when he comes up against opposition who will pose a greater threat.

The Wallabies, for example, have an openside flanker by the name of David Pocock who coach Robbie Deans has rated as being right up there with McCaw and Deans should know. And, of course, the Springboks are never without a group of big, powerful loosies who would see a rookie like Cane as a lamb for the slaughter.

It is when Sam Cane faces challenges of that kind we will get a much better - and fairer - picture of his ability.

Until then we should simply regard him as a youngster with potential.