Sam Cane will captain the All Blacks for the first time in 11 months against Italy on Sunday morning in Rome
Sam Cane will captain the All Blacks for the first time in 11 months against Italy on Sunday morning in Rome
5 November 2021
The fulltime skipper will make a temporary return to the leadership in Rome, as he continues his shoulder and pectoral surgery rehabilitation.
He'll run on at openside flanker, leading out a 15 featuring none of the starting team from Cardiff in a remarkable display of coach Ian Foster's depth.
Dane Coles is the run-on hooker, Josh Lord gets his first All Blacks start at lock and Richie Mo'unga is at 10.
Shannon Frizell, not sighted since the July test against Fiji in Hamilton and having dealt with assault charges from May, will come off the bench.
The full side is: George Bower, Coles, Tyrel Lomax, Tupou Vaa'i, Lord, Luke Jacobson, Cane, Hoskins Sotutu, Brad Weber, Mo'unga, George Bridge, Quinn Tupaea, Braydon Ennor, Sevu Reece and Damian McKenzie.
The reserves are Asafo Aumua, Ethan de Groot, Ofa Tuungafasi, Sam Whitelock, Frizell, Finlay Christie, David Havili and Jordie Barrett.
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