If there were any doubts over his place as All Blacks captain, Sam Cane went a long way to silencing his critics in his side's 53-3 victory over Argentina.
As part of the All Blacks' indifferent start to 2021, with just three victories from seven tests, Cane and coach Ian Foster have found themselves under fire as the team's two leaders.
In particular, Cane's future in the side has been subject of discussion, with the likes of Sam Whitelock and Ardie Savea considered captaincy replacements, while Dalton Papali'i's outstanding form for the Blues in Super Rugby has him contending for the No.7 jersey.
But on his home ground at FMG Stadium, Cane put in the kind of performance the All Blacks captaincy deserves.
In 64 minutes, Cane made 13 tackles at a success rate of 92 percent, won one turnover, ran nine times for 24 metres and set up teammate Jordie Barrett's try - one of seven scored by the All Blacks on the night.
Aside from his individual showing, Cane's leadership was also at the fore, marshalling an All Blacks side needing to make a statement, after the shock 25-18 defeat in Christchurch a week earlier.
Speaking on Sky Sport's Breakdown, All Blacks legend John Kirwan - a vocal critic of Cane in the past - held his hands up over the captain's performance.
"He was outstanding last night," Sir John said. "He played with energy, didn't do anything flash early, set the tone defensively - that's what you want from a leader.
"Often people talk about captaincy, and who makes the decision to kick for the corner or kick for goal, but it's about leadership without talking. I thought he was really, really solid.
"It's the hardest job in the world. Someone said, 'He's not your captain, JK'. Well he is my captain actually.
"Anyone who's played for the All Blacks, we see him as our captain. This is one big family behind him, that want him to do well.
"He was not at his best last weekend and I thought it was a fatigue thing, but he came out and absolutely set the standard for the team on defence. Then his support play later on, he just got those little lollies that we speak about in support."
All Blacks centurion Mils Muliaina was another to herald Cane's display, pointing out the shift in his on-field role.
While Cane has traditionally been deployed as the 'fetcher' for the All Blacks, tasked with winning turnover after turnover, Saturday saw a change in tack. Instead, he looked to lead on defence through his physicality, as the All Blacks played close to the perfect game on a wet Hamilton night.
"You have to think about what he went through in South Africa," said Muliaina. "We highlighted his performance in South Africa.
"He's always had that in his game. He hits hard, he tackles hard.
"When we look at it as spectators, we often think of the No.7, he's got to fetch over the ball. He's still very good at it, he just doesn't do it as much as he used to when he was younger.
"Does he need to? When you go into a game where you're comfortable without the ball, and you've got other guys that can get over the ball, that's an area where he strives."
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