Sam Cane returns to All Blacks squad for Rugby Championship

Love and Cane join outside back Will Jordan and versatile midfielder David Havili as the four players named for the Rugby Championship, who did not feature during the first three Tests of the season. Halfback Noah Hotham and lock Sam Darry retain their places in the squad after being called into the Steinlager Ultra Low Carb Series squad as replacement players then impressing during their respective Test debuts against Fiji in San Diego.

Darry is the fourth lock in the squad alongside Captain Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaai'i and Patrick Tuipulotu, who remained in New Zealand for a rest week while the team travelled to San Diego. Chiefs and Taranaki lock Josh Lord has been named as injury cover for Scott Barrett, who is being monitored after suffering a finger injury against Fiji and having surgery after returning to New Zealand.

Hotham joins Cortez Ratima and TJ Perenara as the three halfbacks chosen for the Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship. Perenara returns from a lower leg injury sustained during the first Test of the season against England in Dunedin.

Cane and Jordan return to the All Blacks after recovering from respective back and shoulder injuries that made them unavailable for the first three Tests of 2024.  Cane bolsters the loose forward stocks to seven for what will be a testing series, starting with back-to-back home Tests against Argentina at Sky Stadium in Wellington and Eden Park in Auckland.

"It was a tough squad to select because everyone has owned their opportunities," said All Blacks Head Coach Scott Robertson.  

"Continuity is important, but it's also important to reward performance. Sam Cane, Will and David bring a lot of experience and leadership to the group and Ruben, Noah and Sam Darry have taken their chance in the environment.

"It will be a special moment for Ruben being selected for the first time. He's worked hard in the background and will be ready when his opportunity comes."

All Blacks squad

Forwards: Asafo Aumua, Codie Taylor, George Bell, Ethan De Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Tamaiti Williams, Scott Barrett (c), Tupou Vaa’i, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Darry, Ethan Blackadder, Sam Cane, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papali’i, Ardie Savea (vc), Wallace Sititi

Backs: Noah Hotham, TJ Perenara, Cortez Ratima, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Jordie Barrett (vc), David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor, Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan, Ruben Love*, Stephen Perofeta, Sevu Reece, Mark Tele’a

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