Flanker Sam Cane has hinted at All Blacks players on the verge of big contract extensions in the wake of Australian rival Michael Hooper's multi-million-dollar deal last week.
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During a media conference in Sydney on Monday, Cane, 26, was quizzed about the challenge he faces at the breakdown this weekend, when the national team face the Wallabies in their Bledisoe Cup/Rugby Championship opener against the Wallabies in Sydney.
Australia are likely to select both David Pocock and Michael Hooper among their loose forwards for the encounter, and Cane acknowledged them as formidable opponents.
Last Friday, Hooper signed a five-year contract extension with Rugby Australia, valued at about NZ$6.7m. That's more than the highest-paid All Black - captain Kieran Read at about $1m - through to next year's Rugby World Cup.
"I think we're seeing a few more deals on the table around rugby for longer periods of time these days," observed Cane. "I know of a couple in New Zealand on the cards, so it's smart, I suppose.
"I'm sure both parties are happy. It's quite good for the player to have that security and know what you're doing.
"You're going to be in the same location and that security for five years as well."
Hooper, 26, could have earned far more by taking up more lucrative offers from the Northern Hemisphere, but he apparently wasn't interested.
"Long deals aren't uncommon in other sports," he said on Friday. "In AFL and rugby league, they're fairly common.
"I don't want to play anywhere else. I love playing here... and see so much potential."
Cane was licking his lips at the prospect of facing Hooper, who missed the final weeks of Super Rugby, and Pocock, who hasn't faced the All Blacks since 2016, at the breakdown.
"[Hooper] has played so much footy for his age and experience is something he has buckets of," he said. "He's someone who's got a big ticker and runs all day, so I'm sure he will slot back in alright.
"[Pocock] is always a big threat when he plays, and the way he continually bounce back and plays at such a high level is pretty outstanding.
"He just creates an awareness - we're on even higher alert than normal around the breakdown.
"Every test match, there's always a big emphasis on the breakdown, whether it's our ball or their ball, disrupting or winning pill, or trying to get fast ball. It'll be a focus again."
Newshub.
