Papali’i in line to become All Blacks’ first-choice No 7 following pending retirement of Sam Cane

The All Blacks’ No 7 jersey has largely been worn by two men for the past two decades.

Richie McCaw took hold of it in 2002 and barely let go for 13 years as he racked up 148 appearances and led New Zealand to two Rugby World Cup triumphs.

Having served his apprenticeship, starting in 2012, Sam Cane then took over in 2016, making a total of 95 appearances, including 27 as captain.

Whether he will add any more remains to be seen, after he announced on Monday that he has signed to play in Japan for the next three seasons.

Cane remains available for the All Blacks in 2024, but it’s hard to see coach Scott Robertson sticking with him as he begins to build towards the next World Cup in 2027.

Dalton Papali’i has been Cane’s understudy for the past six years, earning a total of 32 caps himself, including 17 in the No 7 jersey.

As he prepares to take ownership of a jersey McCaw and Cane combined to wear in 211 of the 284 All Blacks tests since the former player’s debut, he is determined to be his own man.

Cane says they were both leaders, both All Blacks captains, so those are pretty big boots to fill, to be honest.

He says the thing that they talk about is they do not own the jersey, they are just filling it with their legacy.

Also in the running for that No 7 jersey are Hurricanes youngster Peter Lakai, Crusaders Ethan Blackadder, Chiefs Luke Jacobson, Highlander Billy Harmon and potentially another Hurricane in Du’Plessis Kirifi.

Robertson is set to name his first All Blacks squad on June 24 – two days after the Super Rugby Pacific final – with the first test of the year coming on July 6th against England in Dunedin.

[Source: Stuff.co.nz]