Cane to lead the All Blacks

New Zealand boss Steve Hansen has backed new captain Sam Cane to be a key leader in the future for the All Blacks.

Cane will lead the side against Namibia this weekend.

“He is a good leader and the most important part of leadership is playing well. He does that good. He’s got a reasonably tricky job in the team in following the skipper, but whenever he gets his opportunity he plays well and that’s important."

“He’s got a good rugby brain and is happy to voice his opinions, to lead by example and lead by voice. He is young. There are other guys we could have chosen in the pack and backs, but we thought we would look to the future and give it to someone who we believe in a lot and who has the ability to captain them in the future.”

Cane was understandably proud to take up the honour, even if it caught him off guard.

“It’s a great honour. It took me by surprise a little bit. It  was extremely special to become an All Black for the first time but to be able to lead your country out stands above that. So I’m hugely honoured and extremely excited about it."

“Fortunately, my mum and dad have come over for the game against Argentina and I had a little bit of time with them this morning at breakfast and I was able to tell them in person, which was pretty nice. I found out yesterday. They were very proud. Mum gave me a cuddle and it was nice to be able to them personally."