Sam Cane

All Blacks flank Same Cane is not phased by the Wallabies possibly adopting a double-fetcher approach when the 2 sides meet on Saturday.

Australia and New Zealand will clash in the 1st of 2 Bledisloe Cup ties, the 1st match being The Rugby Championship decider.

With the all-clear given to Wallaby flank Michael Hooper, Australia could well play Hooper and David Pocock in the same team, which will certainly give the All Blacks something to think about at the breakdown.

The use by more sides of 2 openside flanks is nothing new, New Zealand has had several exponents of it in their past.

But it was now being tried by South Africa and the calls were increasing for Australia to go the same way especially with quality players like Pocock and Hooper.

Cane, who has come back into the All Blacks fold after being rested, said he had experienced that type of game with the Chiefs when paired with Tanerau Latimer.

“At international level it is tough. I suppose it just depends on the make-up of your loose forwards. Some teams just want to get their best players out on the park and if that means some are playing out of position then so be it,” said Cane.

“We’ve got a pretty well-balanced loose forward trio here so there’s not really the need to do that,” he said.

The adjustment at the Chiefs was not too hard, as it mainly applied to functions off the set pieces.

What it did do when opposing teams played 2 opensides was increase the awareness of players, especially on the ball.

“We’re always aware of players who are good like that but if we do our job right, which is ball carry right and get our clean-out spot on, then they’re not normally a problem.

“I don’t think you can prepare any differently, you have just got to make sure that we’re really good at doing the basics so it doesn’t create opportunities for guys like them to get in there and be a nuisance,” he said.

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