An 'indescribable buzz' - Sam Cane on special All Blacks milestone

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The haka, performed next door to Joe Schmidt’s address to the media and which almost drowned out the Wallabies coach, told the story last night.

It was led by a departing veteran – TJ Perenara – and directed at another – Sam Cane, and such was the volume it almost made the walls shake.

Cane’s 100th Test, and final one at home before he takes up a long-term contract in Japan, wasn’t his best personally but it was a breakthrough collectively.

It was the first by the All Blacks in Wellington since 2018 and it came via the strongest second-half performance of head coach Scott Robertson’s reign.

Not only did the All Blacks score their first points in the final quarter of a Rugby Championship Test this year, they defended with absolute commitment and in fact the latter element was probably one of the most impressive things about this 33-13 victory, even allowing for their five tries, two of which were scored by left wing Caleb Clarke.

It all added a passion and poignancy to the celebrations, and in particular that Ka Mate haka, which will live long in Cane’s memory.

Cane, sitting alongside Perenara afterwards, said: “TJ and I have known each other and played against each other since we were 16 years old.

“To be here now as 32-year-olds is pretty remarkable… and we’re about to play each other for another three years too [in Japan]… any time you get a haka from your teammates… a big part of rugby is earning respect. A haka is the ultimate sign of respect."

Cane added: “Aaron Smith sent me a message at the start of the week with a few things he got told going into his 100th and one of them was when people talk about it and do stuff be grateful and appreciate rather than brushing it off and trying to stay so focused on the game.

“I did try to enjoy the moments throughout the week and there were plenty of special ones, mainly from teammates and coaches and people I’ve got a lot of respect for who’ve got a lot of nice words.

TJ Perenara with the Bledisloe Cup at Sky Stadium after the All Blacks' victory. (Source: Photosport)

"It was a pretty indescribable buzz running out first… I think Wellington tonight and even game day around town, it was the biggest buzz I’ve felt around the place and I’ve played a few Test matches here.”

The All Blacks’ run of five Tests without a win in the capital weighed on them – to such an extent that head coach Robertson said it was addressed before the Test.

“We talked about the land, the whenua, and how we could show a bit more respect to it,” he said. “The performance - that was what it deserved… we showed it tonight.”

Robertson was happy, and proud, but few were happier and prouder than Cane, the former skipper who got a standing ovation from the Sky Stadium crowd when he left the field in the 67th minute, five minutes after Perenara.

It was the performance and the result which pleased him the most.

“Absolutely,” he said. “I wouldn’t be sitting here with too much of a smile if we didn’t get that part right. That was the main part.

“It was a tough first half, we had to work hard for it. We managed to take a few moments in the second half to put some pressure on. I thought the defence particularly in that last 20 was outstanding. They threw everything at us and we kept showing up.

“Those sorts of things build a big of steel and resilience in teams and will put us in good stead going forward.”

Perenara said: “I’ve played a lot of games here… to be able to run off the field and feel the respect and appreciation from my home and my people was very special.”

So Cane, honoured in the changing room in front of his mother, father, wife and sisters, has finished a significant part of his playing career and with the potential to continue to contribute on the November tour.

“As long as I’m contracted in New Zealand I’ll put my hand up to go on the end of year tour,” he said. “I’ll leave that up to them [selectors]. I’d understand if they didn’t want to go down that path. I’ve really enjoyed the environment and my role in the team. It’s an awesome group in there and there’s more to come.”

Not everything clicked for the All Blacks, who had a reshuffled backline with Beauden Barrett at No.10 which, overall, appeared to play with an improved balance.

Barrett was good, as was Damian McKenzie off the bench. Will Jordan shone at fullback, as did Clarke on the left wing, but few were as good as blindside flanker Wallace Sititi, a 22-year-old with an enormous workrate and skill level.

Robertson said: “He’s a great kid, eh? He’s a man of faith and believes in himself, more importantly. He trusts in his skillset and is really humble. He’s tough, he can play.”