Former All Black greats favour Papalii over captain Cane for Ireland Series

All Blacks' captain Sam Cane shouldn't wear the no.7 jersey for the upcoming test series against Ireland in July, according to former All Blacks Sir John Kirwan, Mils Muliaina and Jeff Wilson.

Cane was named as the new All Blacks captain once Ian Foster took over from Steven Hansen after the 2019 Rugby World Cup and while Sam Whitelock has assumed the role during periods where Cane has been injured, the Chiefs flanker is likely to be the man to lead the All Blacks this July.

However, according to Kirwan and Wilson, Cane shouldn't even make the matchday 23 as Blues' flanker Dalton Papalii has usurped him in the pecking order.

On Sky's The Breakdown show, the trio were tasked with selecting their All Blacks loose-forward mix, and just Muliana had Cane in his starting lineup albeit on the blindside.

“I think Papalii is out-and-out the in-form No 7,” Muliaina said.

“He needs to stay there.

“Don’t move him out of position. Don’t give him a positional change or number change, don’t move him into No 6, because I want him there [at No 7].

“Sam Cane comes in [at No 6] for a particular reason, and that is turnover ball.”

Jeff Wilson argued that the All Blacks would need a bigger blindside flanker to tackle the Irish and but agreed that Papali'i was the right man for the #7 jersey.

”Dalton Papalii in the last 12 months has delivered for the Blues and for the All Blacks,” he said.

“He needs an opportunity to see whether or not he can take it to the next level.

“That’s why I’ve got him in that position. The moment he’s not available, Sam Cane is starting for me at No 7, because at the international level the physicality he brings is 100 per cent right there.

“I’m looking at a different balance with Tupou Vaa’i at blindside flanker. I want size.”

Meanwhile, Kirwin agreed that Papali'i should start at openside but picked fellow Blues' flanker Akira Ioane as his No 6.

“I think that what we get with Akira is that out-and-out X-factor,” he said. “He can play, he can make a difference.

“He’s our current incumbent at No 6. I think the balance with him and then Ardie gives us a combination. I think Ardie over the past couple of years gives us the ability to have turnover ball, but also carry the ball.

“If we want to play an expansive game, and want to be really threatening in our attack, I would like to see that mix – Papalii, Akira, and Ardie Savea. I think it’s a great mix.”

Papalii has helped the Blues end the Super Rugby Pacific season as the league leaders securing a home playoff run. The Auckland-based side have won 13 straight games after going down to the Hurricanes in their season opener.

Papalii started the November test against Ireland and made 26 tackles in the match. After the loss, Cane was brought back into the starting lineup against France.