"It meant everything to me [wearing the All Black jersey] and more.''
At 1.89m tall and tipping the scales at 104kg, the loosie who made his debut as a reserve in the second test in Christchurch said there was a different intensity in the Hamilton match.
"It probably comes down to [our] attitude and intensity we decided to bring this week. We lacked it a little bit last week and we worked hard this week at training, so to see it come off on the pitch was pretty awesome.''
Cane's father, Malcolm, told The Daily Post yesterday it was a special moment watching his son get capped at an after-match function on Saturday in Hamilton.
"There was quite a tribe of us up there _ his grandparents and friends _ it was just great.''
He said the whole experience had been quite surreal.
"To watch him run out in the No 7 jersey was just awesome and for him to play so well was an added bonus. You can't get ahead of yourself but he's shown the coaches what he's capable of.''
He said his son had done well for the Bay of Plenty Steamers and the Chiefs and his experience in national age-group representative rugby had served him well.
Cane's performance even impressed All Blacks coach Steve Hansen. Although Cane wasn't a threat to captain Richie McCaw's hold on the position, he has given his coach an option when he need to rest the 106-test veteran loose forward.
The two-test capped youngster didn't think he would be pushing his captain out of the starting line-up any time soon.
"I'm just trying to prove again I can play at this level and there are options for [Hansen].''
Cane used his skill to its fullest linking well with the backs and was often first to the breakdown.
