Sam Cane

Ireland's historic 2-1 series win in New Zealand last month put head coach Ian Foster under enormous pressure but it was his assistants John Plumtree and Brad Mooar who got the boot and were replaced by forwards coach Jason Ryan.

Any immediate improvement will be tested by world champions South Africa in the opening match of the Rugby Championship that will be played at altitude in Nelspruit on Saturday.

The Otago Daily Times is claiming that Cane could be replaced as captain for the Rugby Championship opening two games with South Africa by veteran lock Sam Whitelock following the test series loss to Ireland.

Schmidt, currently an All Blacks selector, is believed to be taking more of a director of rugby role in response to the two defeats by an Ireland side he helped create.

New Zealand Rugby was expected to announce a Rugby Championship squad yesterday, but that was delayed by the review into the team’s recent poor performances.

The home team were dealt more disruption on Tuesday ahead of the sold out game at Eden Park.

Star outside back Will Jordan became the latest to test positive for the virus, going into isolation alongside midfielders David Havili and Jack Goodhue, plus head coach Ian Foster and assistants John Plumtree and Scott McLeod.

Hardly ideal going into your first test of the year, against a very good team.

But Cane insisted the squad was rolling with the punches.

After straining his right MCL in the round-14 victory over the Force, Cane didn’t travel to Fiji for the final-round win over the Fijian Drua last Saturday in the hope he would recover for the first round of the playoffs.

The All Blacks skipper sat out much of Tuesday’s training, and while assistant coach David Hill wasn’t ruling the veteran openside flanker out, it’s understood he will indeed be sidelined for the match at FMG Stadium Waikato (4.35pm kickoff).

The 29-year-old played his first game for the Chiefs in 2010 and made his All Blacks debut two years later.

The 2015 Rugby World Cup winner has played 77 Tests and captained the team ten times. He has played 126 times for the Chiefs.

As part of his contract, Cane has the option of taking a non-playing or playing break from the New Zealand game in 2024.

Cane, who has spent most of the season out with injury, returns to the loose forward trio that includes the introduction of Akira Ioane, who is on the blindside and Ardie Savea at number eight.

Dane Coles starts at hooker.

There are four changes in the backs from the side that lost to Ireland, with Aaron Smith starting at halfback, Richie Mo'unga at first-five the injured Beauden Barrett, Quinn Tupaea at centre for the injured Anton Lienert-Brown and George Bridge coming onto the left wing.

Coach Ian Foster has named what is essentially his second string lineup with Cane and hooker Dane Coles in the starting lineup as they continue their return to the game following injuries.

The squad sees the young locking partnership of Tupou Vaa'i and Josh Lord named to start in the second row. It will be 21-year-old Vaa'i's fourth start in his 10th Test while 20-year-old Lord gets his first Test start after making his debut against the USA in the first Test of the Northern Tour.

Cane has been sidelined since March with a torn pectoral muscle and other complications but eased back into competition with a provincial match last week in New Zealand.

Foster said Cane was ready to step up for the game against the 'Eagles' on 24 October in Washington, along with fit-again hooker Dane Coles, who suffered a calf strain in July.

"We've already flagged that for the likes of Sam Cane and Dane, who have been out for a while with injury, this will be an ideal game to get them back in there," Foster said.

With regular captain Sam Cane out injured after having surgery on a torn pectoral tendon, All Blacks coach Ian Foster will name a new captain ahead of the opening test against Tonga on July 3.

McCaw, a double World Cup winning captain in 2011 and 2015, has suggested his former All Blacks and Crusaders team-mate Sam Whitlelock as the man for the job until Cane’s return.

“I don’t want to be saying too much, and there’s obviously a few candidates, but there’s no doubt ... Sam Whitelock, who has done it before, has done a good job over the years,” McCaw said.

Cane is also expected to miss most of the All Blacks’ fixtures in 2021 after tearing the tendon in his right pectoral.

The 29-year-old loose forward could be sidelined for four to six months after suffering the injury in the Chiefs’ win over the Blues on March 27, but he has overcome the first hurdle in his recovery.

From his hospital bed, Cane said he would be “coming back stronger” after also having some shoulder issues fixed.