A crucial choice about All Blacks captaincy is made by Scott Robertson
Sam Cane, an openside flanker, was the captain at the start of Ian Foster’s tenure as head coach in 2020 and was Foster’s first pick for the position.
The greatest coaching lineup change for the All Blacks since Sir Graham Henry took over for John Mitchell following the 2003 Rugby World Cup also occurred at the same time as Robertson was named the team’s new head coach.
A new captain can be chosen.
Additionally, Robertson could choose to choose a new captain after a number of adjustments were made to the All Blacks’ backroom personnel.
Throughout his tenure as head coach, Foster’s qualifications and value were called into doubt; the same could be said of Cane, the captain of the three-time world champion team.
In addition to being questioned about his leadership qualities, Cane was continuously asked if he was deserving of a spot on the All Blacks’ bench.
However, both Foster and Cane gave an excellent account of themselves at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France and played crucial parts in the All Blacks’ route to the final, when they suffered a close defeat to their arch rivals the Springboks.
Earlier this week, Robertson assumed leadership of the All Blacks for the first time, when a 22-man team assembled in Auckland. It brought together players from New Zealand who competed in the World Cup the previous year.
Cane was not there since he, along with Beauden Barrett and Ardie Savea, is presently on sabbatical in Japan. Robertson did not respond to a question about who will captain the All Blacks in 2024, but he did provide the date of the announcement.
“When we name the squad for the [England] series, I’ll name the captain,” he declared. “I need to speak to a few individuals, engage in dialogue, attract some attention, go on the odd knee, and strike up a few talks. “We must take that action for all available options.”
Cane and Savea, who has previously led the All Blacks on several occasions, are not participating in Super Rugby Pacific this year, which presents an opportunity for other players to demonstrate their leadership abilities to Robertson. Still, the previously named pair would be regarded as the favorites for the job of leader.
Additional candidates for captaincy
Crusaders captain Scott Barrett and fellow All Black Codie Taylor (hooker), who guided the Christchurch-based team to a Super Rugby Aotearoa title in 2021, are among the other players eager to seize that chance.
Though he would be viewed as an outsider to lead his country in the international arena, Luke Jacobson, another All Blacks back-row, has filled in as captain for the Chiefs when other leaders were unavailable. Meanwhile, New Zealand openside flanker Dalton Papali’i has led the Blues for the past two seasons.