What’s the biggest thing Scott Robertson has learned during his first eight Tests with the All Blacks – beyond the small margins inherent at this level? It is the value of experience.
Experience in the playing group, that is.
Assistant coach Jason Ryan has been involved at the top level with New Zealand for a couple of years now, but head coach Robertson and his other assistants Scott Hansen, Jason Holland and Tamati Ellison are comparative novices, which makes having men like flanker Sam Cane and halfback TJ Perenara around doubly important.
Robertson has told friends that the way South Africa can retain their experienced players via overseas contracts following World Cup cycles is one of the Boks’ greatest strengths.
That was brought home when the world champions twice fought their way back from deficits to beat the All Blacks recently – mainly through the quality and composure from their experienced bench – and it partly explains why Robertson has felt Cane’s selection in the No.7 jersey quickly became a non-negotiable this year.
Cane is also a valuable link to the past and men such as Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick and Aaron Smith, a trio who departed after the World Cup final. Richie Mo'unga, one of the best No.10s in the world, has also gone. The Boks have not suffered anywhere near the same exodus.
Test rugby is a brutal, ruthless, business. Experience is hard earned and valuable in more ways than are immediately obvious. One only needs to look at the Boks to understand that.
As an aside, it is also why Robertson has been such an advocate for New Zealand Rugby to allow players to be selected from overseas clubs, a change the governing body is steadfastly refusing to make. It is probably only a matter of time before Robertson gets his wish and it will likely happen before the 2031 World Cup.
Back to Cane – some felt that his announcement of a long-term contract in Japan from next year, which will make tomorrow’s Bledisloe Cup Test against the Wallabies in Wellington tomorrow his last at home, was a way to save face after losing the captaincy to Scott Barrett.
The Chiefs’ veteran would be named in the squad but probably wouldn’t get much game time, the theory went, and he would quietly exit to the land of the Rising Sun without reaching his 100-Test milestone.
Instead, the truth is the All Blacks never wanted him to go and he will celebrate his ton at the Cake Tin tomorrow with an eye on earning more caps during the team’s Northern tour.
“He’s one of those guys you’ve got to get to know,” Robertson said of Cane, 32.
“I think from afar you’ve got an opinion. But when you actually see him and meet him and what he is [like] around the environment, he’ll say things that others won’t. I don’t say that lightly. He’s a bit of a sheriff.
“He’s got it in the holster and will go ‘bang’ and fire and say, ‘No this is how it is. I’m going to call you out’, or ‘this is the All Blacks’ standard’.
“His ability to do it week after week in a tough position, he’s broken his neck, he’s bounced back, he’s consistent on the field.
“But I think the leadership part for me is something I really respect. He’s been great for us and our environment and he’s performed, more importantly.
“It’s great that we can give him 100 [Tests] off the back of playing well and what he’s done over his 10-odd year career.”
It should be noted here too that while Robertson is starting Perenara and Cane in their last Tests at home – the man known as Razor is not a sentimental coach.
He had no hesitation in cutting veteran Wyatt Crocket from the Crusaders’ final against the Lions in 2018 for what would have been his final professional rugby match, which suggests he is being guided by pragmatism rather than a sense of occasion.
“He’s playing good footy,” Robertson said of Perenara. “They can mix and match. When he [Cortez Ratima] has started he’s been good and when he’s come off the bench he’s been good as well. You’ve got a great 9/10 combo.”
Perenara was outstanding defensively when he came on at Sydney's Accor Stadium and Cane has also been consistently good in this area this year.
Robertson said of Perenara: “He’s shown a lot of fortitude, he’s AB tough, he’s fought back from injury, he’s a competitor and a winner, it’s great that I could be a part of his career and see what he’s given to this team.”
Perenara’s long-time combination with Beauden Barrett, who is starting at first-five for the All Blacks for the first time since late 2022, likely got him the nod over the excellent Ratima, but it is a testament to the 32-year-old’s resilience and form that he has forced Robertson’s hand.
His emotions will likely run high when he runs on to his home pitch for the final time but the crowd will likely save a special welcome and farewell for Cane too.
He is the player who faced the near impossible task of replacing the great Richie McCaw in the No.7 jersey and Kieran Read as captain. He is the man, too, who was crushed by his red card in last year’s World Cup final and who one senses was never truly appreciated by a demanding public.
That may change tomorrow night.
“Sam’s a great man,” Perenara said. “I played schools with him, 20s, and played against him a lot through Super Rugby and then with him in this team a lot too.
“His influence on this team won’t be forgotten. He’s been an amazing captain for this team, an amazing player. He’s someone that you can rely on and you know that he’s going to show up for you week in, week out.”
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