ALL BLACK FLANKER Sam Cane will complete a remarkable comeback from a broken neck when he plays for Waikato Chiefs on Saturday, giving All Black selectors a timely World Cup boost.
Eight months after Cane was stretchered off during an All Blacks-South Africa Test in Pretoria last October, the Chiefs named the 27-year-old on the bench for this weekend’s match against Auckland Blues.
While not starting the match, the Chiefs indicated Cane will be given game-time during the North Island derby.
“Cane will take the field for the first time this Super Rugby season,” the club said in a statement.
Cane fractured a vertebra in a collision with South African Francois Louw during the All Blacks’ 32-30 win over the Springboks last October.
He escaped nerve damage which could have paralysed him but faced the prospect of the bone not healing properly, a problem which has ended the careers of some players who suffered similar injuries.
Cane’s return will give the All Blacks more options at flanker for the World Cup in Japan, with his defensive mettle complementing rival openside Ardie Savea’s attacking prowess.
The 60-Test All Black admitted earlier this month that the injury was “scary” and he was well aware its impact could have been much more serious.
But he denied fears about reinjuring his neck could inhibit his game, saying his medical team had cleared him to rejoin the fray with total commitment.
“There will always be things you might get slightly wrong but the surgeon is not going to send me out there unless he’s 100 percent sure,” Cane told stuff.co.nz.
“In a funny way my neck should actually be stronger as I’ve got two vertebrae fused together with a bit of metal wrapped around them.”
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I agree it looks and sounds bad but not sure you can banish him off panel for it, she’s as much to blame.
It doesn’t say anywhere in the article that his youtube video has anything to do with him being dropped from the panel. It just mentions he has other talents.
If players get dropped off the panel over a video like that then the GAA needs to seriously look at the expectation of amateur players. What next, laughing bans?
Aideen and john, get a dictionary and look up the meaning of the word “sarcasm”
I was just making a general point rather than responding to any of the points above
Davy has lost the team
Davy is going to save a fortune on Mi Wadi and biscuits
Everyone is writing them boys off, so they are. But I know what them boys are like. So I do.
It’s a disaster now cold Galvin is off as well 3 of them gone playing football, it’s not looking good, he’s obviously lost the dressing room, but judge him after this year, it would be such a shame to waste that amount of talent
Simple answer, bring back Kinnerk! And if need be oust Fitz
When words like United and tight bunch get bandied about you just know trouble is not far away. I hope I’m wrong . Come on the banner
Clare people would want to get a grip of themselves. 2013 was a freak year, how many all irelands are won by beating laois galway limerick and cork.
Or rather not tipp or kk? I’ve the height of respect for a talented bunch of hurlers, but my god the rubbish hand passing puke hurling they are being made play is Sh**
It’s evident in their body language that they don’t like it, and also evident that it does not work. Clare should be going man for man and playing the style of hurling that goes out to win. They haven’t won a game in a full year..The manager is a divisive figure and obviously did not have his work appraised sufficiently because not winning a game in a year is marching orders for me.
If the Clare people were honest about it, he is not the man to lead them. Sparrow built that team. Now get are demoralised by a garbage style of hurling and rubbish management. Lads have already jumped ship, not because they don’t want to hurl, it’s because they don’t want to hurl under current management.
Il agree with you to a point. Management don’t look good no, but 2013 was no freak year or was it a fluke. Limerick took care of Tipp and Dublin took out Kk. Both heavyweights played out a thriller in nowlan pk in the qualifiers where Kk came out the stronger after a terrific contest. Cork took Kk out of the championship after that. Clare beat Munster champs limerick in the semi’s and went onto an epic win over cork in the final. By no means was it freak! It just happened to be a different year to the hurling calendar and a welcome change to who we usually see. And mark my words clare will be there or there abouts again this year. Iv 100% belief and faith that those young guys got many more all Ireland’s left in the tank to win. An Clár abu!
Kinnerk leaving was liking a head falling off and leaving the b*llocks to make the decisions!