All Blacks: Time to shine as Cane steps from McCaw's shadow to start at No 7

Even playing off the bench, Sam Cane's old-fashioned instincts at No 7, and his eagerness, always make a difference in a game. Photo / Getty Images

Sam Cane hasn't started a game - of any kind - since May. He's gone the better part of six months living off scraps.

On the surface it may not appear to have been a vintage season for Cane. He and Tanerau Latimer shared duties for much of the first half of the campaign, until Cane damaged his knee in late May. That kept him out of the June series and the remainder of Super Rugby, and since then he's seen 103 minutes of test action.

It's not been much, but it's been enough for Cane to look every inch the natural successor to Richie McCaw. Cane has become the new Beauden Barrett - the All Blacks' highest-impact bench player. Throughout this season's test programme, without fail, when Cane has come on the tempo has gone up.

Yet so few may appreciate just how good he's been. Part of his problem is that he's been coming off the bench. New Zealanders, arguably, still don't have a full appreciation of how important the eight men in reserve are.

A bigger part of the problem for Cane, however, is that McCaw has always been on the field with him. It's hard to be noticed when the skipper is still capable of small miracles.

But this has been Cane's life since he broke into the All Black squad in 2012. It's not been easy for him to get game time and nor has it been easy, when he's had it, to convince everyone he's good enough.

Which is strange, because he's been hard not to notice and without really making a big thing about it, the All Blacks have been able to do this year what they have never done before - and successfully play two opensides in tandem.

They haven't started a test with both McCaw and Cane on the flanks, but they have ended plenty.

Almost every one this year has seen, for anything from 10 minutes to 35 minutes, McCaw and Cane play as a pairing. And they have certainly made it work.

McCaw's game has evolved to the point where he's got enough skills to be an effective blindside. As for Cane, he plays in much the same way McCaw did at the same age.

Still only 22, Cane is a classic, old school No 7 with terrier instincts. He's quick around the field, strong when he competes for ball on the ground and capable of making big tackles and plenty of them.

And this is what Cane's selection tomorrow is all about - providing a sharp reminder, with McCaw not around, that he's a quality footballer. It's about showing he can deliver all the component parts and do justice to a jersey that some seriously good players have worn. There's also a bit of pressure on him to show his maturity as Cane, since last year, has been in the leadership group.

The starting pack is inexperienced and Cane, despite being the second youngest, is expected to make his voice heard and to lead by example.

The fact Cane hasn't had a start in so long doesn't worry him. He reckons he's fit enough and eager enough to make the impact he wants.

"It's going to be exciting to get out there and get a start," he says. "It has been a little while. The fitness work we do in our off weeks is pretty intense. It's is similar to the amount of running we do in a game and at that same intensity as well.

"I'm doing all right in those sessions and all you can do from there is back yourself when you ... play."

Sam Cane in 2014

Chiefs
Games: 10
Minutes: 704

All Blacks
Tests: 6
Minutes: 123

Last started a game: Chiefs v Waratahs May 31