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'Might as well': John Kirwan calls for captain Cane to 'sit one out'
By Sam Smith
Former All Black John Kirwan has called for changes including a rest for captain Sam Cane in the second test against Argentina.
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After just two wins from six tests in 2022, the All Blacks have played their top available side in every match in search of results.
Typically against Los Pumas in the past, mass changes would be made and wider squad members often got game time and starts.
This year the side is under immense pressure to turn around the Rugby Championship campaign where they sit in third place with a 1-2 record, leading to a selection conundrum heading into the must-win fixture.
Speaking on Sky Sport NZ’s The Breakdown, Kirwan called for captain Sam Cane and experienced lock Sam Whitelock to be rested.
“Should we blood some young guys in there? Do we need to rest Cane, rest Whitelock?” Kirwan asked.
“I’m not saying they won’t be good enough to go to the World Cup, but we need to start putting some of these young guys under fire.
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“We’ve lost so many games now, we might as well.”
With the number of test matches until the 2023 World Cup campaign quickly reducing, time is of the essence when it comes to building experience for players who may need to be thrust into starting roles in France.
Kirwan called for Blues captain and form No 7 Dalton Papalii to have a start this week after previously featuring at blindside and off the bench in the Ireland series.
“Both Whitelock and Cane look pretty tired to me,” he said.
“Maybe we need to go, ‘sit this one out, play against Aussie’. Just be open and honest about it. If you want to drop him, then drop him but tell the truth because I want to see Dalton Papalii out there.
“We’ve lost six out of the last eight, so let’s go, righto boys the competition is on. Sam you’re competing against Dalton. That’s just the way it is and we’ve all got to do it.
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“We need Dalton to play some games. There’s nothing wrong with Cane … he’s probably not in the best form of his life, but we need Dalton to get out there because what happens next year?
“What’s going to happen at lock? We’ve got Retallick back, so do you play Retallick and Barrett this week?
“What are we doing to say we’re building for the future, because I keep hearing we’re building…”
