By John Day (@John_Day_)
Well that certainly caught me by surprise, but what a great call to make Sam Cane captain for the All Blacks second Rugby World Cup pool match against Namibia.
I'll never forget the first time I saw him play. It was for the Chiefs against the Crusaders in Napier. This young openside with a big reputation was marking the man he's just taken over as the fifth youngest-ever All Blacks Test captain, Richie McCaw.
Now I'm a massive Crusaders fan, but the 19-year-old got the better of the big dog that night, and first impressions last.
Cane was rightfully rushed into the All Blacks fold in 2012 and into the leadership group in 2013, but he's played just 25 Tests over the past four seasons and only 11 as a starter while he patiently waits for McCaw to retire.
That time is only six Tests away now (if we make it through to the final, touch wood) and with Kieran Read already anointed as the next skipper, a new deputy will be needed, and Cane is deservedly that man.
But what does this mean for Ardie Savea? Cane's had to wait for what has no doubt seemed like an eternity for him to get hold of that famous 7 jersey from 2016 onwards, and he's not likely to let it go until after the 2023 World Cup.
Sonny Bill Williams and Ardie Savea have both committed to Sevens in 2016 (Getty Images)
Should Savea be content with being the back-up? Should the Hurricanes hell-raiser transfer his skills into the Sevens arena fulltime? That would be such a waste of talent for a player that has caught the eye of every rugby fan in New Zealand and around the globe.
Should Savea say sayonara and pick up a big money contract overseas? Maybe a transfer to the NFL perhaps? Now I'm just being silly.
Savea can't sit in the reserves for the next decade and we can't lose him overseas.
Perhaps the All Blacks should think about adopting the twin openside policy that worked so well against them in Sydney this year, because losing Ardie Savea is an option we cannot afford to take.
A trio of Savea at blindside, Cane on the openside, and Read at number eight… that's definitely something to take the All Blacks through to the next Rugby World Cup.
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