All Blacks want to finish season on a high against Wales - Sam Cane

  • 21/11/2017

All Blacks flanker Sam Cane is eager to finish the year on a high, ahead of New Zealand's last test of their northern tour against Wales in Cardiff on Sunday morning (NZT).

Having notched up four consecutive wins so far, the 52-test-capped international does not want to go into the off-season with a loss, and is confident his teammates are up for the finale.

"Really keen to finish the season on the right note, with a bang," Cane said.

"It would be awesome to be able to sit in the sheds on Saturday, really satisfied and proud with how we went.

"That would make the next couple of weeks, probably months that much more enjoyable."

Wales boast a loose-forward contingent of Dan Lydiate, Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau, who have all represented the British and Irish Lions.

So naturally, and being a flanker himself, that is where Cane believes the outcome of the test-match will hinge.

"Obviously we keep a fairly close eye on the loose forwards, and what's going on there," he said.

"It'll be interesting to see what mix they go with.

"I think, like us, they got a pretty well-balance loose-forward trio that can compete at the breakdown, ball carriers, big defensively and big work rate as well, so should be a tough battle."

Fellow loose-forward Matt Todd echoed Cane's enthusiasm to finish the season on a high, and expects an opposition keen to throw the ball around.

"They look like they're trying to playing an expansive game, they had the two playmakers at 10, 12 against Australia, so whether they continue that or not, I'm not sure," he said.

"But they want to play, they want to attack and under a roof, it's going to be good conditions for that, so we're expecting a fast game.

"You want to finish well because if you don't, it's a long, long couple of months dwelling on a poor performance.

"I think that's really the drive for the boys, is to put in a good week prep and lead into a good performance."

The test-match also sees Steven Hansen once again come up against old foe and Warren Gatland, who led the Lions to a series draw against the All Blacks in New Zealand earlier in the year.

Cane does not feel the re-union will be treated any different by his coach, and expects the same attitude towards a test-match as always.

"Steve's probably one of the most competitive people I've ever come up against, so I don't think it really matters who he's playing, or we're playing, he's particularly keen to win," he said.

"To use one of his sayings, 'we don't want any rocks under our towel over summer.'"

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