Rugby: Cane ready for All Blacks return

Sam Cane is ready to pull on the All Blacks jersey again. Photo / Richard Robinson

Sam Cane is back in All Blacks contention this week and he's chomping at the bit for a return to the test arena.

The 23-year-old hasn't been considered by Steve Hansen so far this year after a brutal Super Rugby campaign took its toll on the Chiefs loose forward.

He averaged 76 minutes from each of his 15 starts but the Chiefs were beaten by eventual winners, the Highlanders, in the very first round of the playoffs.

Cane said the rest he's had since then has benefited his body but watching the Argentina test from the stands made him realise how badly he wanted to get back into the thick of it.

"You get to the point where you need a bit of rest. It's a juggling act and a fine line of how much of a break you need before you get out there.

"I think it's been almost six weeks since that quarter-final so I've done a lot of training in between then. It was pretty exciting to get back out there and run around again.

"It was good during the Super Rugby season to play every week and with that, you get a bit of confidence with how you're going. On top of that a few weeks off was enjoyable, mainly for the body but in my mind I wanted to keep playing. It really sunk in when I was watching Argentina.

"It would have been really good to be out there. I'm now chomping at the bit and I'm working really hard if I do get that chance out there."

The All Blacks are focusing hard on creating indivdual programmes for players to work on and Steve Hansen is keen to give everyone a chance to prove themselves before the squad for the World Cup is named.

Cane falls right into that category and he's had to bide his time as the All Blacks have now played three tests in the last month against Samoa, Argentina and South Africa - winning all three.

In the 22 tests Cane has played since his debut against Ireland in 2012, he's started just 11 with the All Blacks being particularly strong in that loose forward position, with the likes of Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw, Liam Messam and Kieran Read all challenging for starting births.

Cane said his role in the side was unique and his time with the All Blacks has been excellent in his development as a player.

"Mentally you've got to remind yourself how awesome it is to be here and you always need to prepare to play.

"The chances to pull on the seven jersey are few and far between so you do want to make sure if the opportunity does arise, you're ready to grab it.

"If you're not playing, you're still doing plenty of learning and evolving as a rugby player.

"You're pretty confident you're getting better as a player without playing the minutes. It makes it pretty exciting that when you do get the chance, you can put some of that stuff you've been training out on the field."