Notshe won’t have ‘big eyes’ for Cane

Sam Cane (co-captain) of the Chiefs is tackled by Ntando Kebe of the Southern Kings (L) during the 2016 Vodacom Super Rugby game between the Southern Kings and the Chiefs at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth on 12 March 2016 ©Michael Sheehan/BackpagePix

Sam Cane (co-captain) of the Chiefs is tackled by Ntando Kebe of the Southern Kings (L) during the 2016 Vodacom Super Rugby game between the Southern Kings and the Chiefs at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth on 12 March 2016 ©Michael Sheehan/BackpagePix

Published Jul 20, 2016

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Sam Cane may be the heir to Richie McCaw’s throne, but that doesn’t mean Sikhumbuzo Notshe will have “big eyes” for the All Black No 7 when the Stormers take on the Chiefs in Saturday’s Super Rugby quarter-final at Newlands.

Instead, the 23-year-old Notshe – who was part of the Springbok squad against Ireland in June – is relishing the prospect of going toe-to-toe with Cane at what is likely to be a wet Newlands.

The 24-year-old Cane has already wracked up 34 Test caps with the All Blacks since making his debut in 2012, and is finally able to lay claim to the No 7 jersey that was vacated by the retired McCaw following New Zealand’s second successive World Cup triumph last October.

The Chiefs co-captain is set to be a major threat to the Stormers’ plans of holding on to the ball and dominating the collisions on Saturday as he will go in hard to contest the ball at the breakdowns.

But while Notshe is far from a specialist forager on the ground, he is lethal with ball-in-hand and has added a significant physical element to his game this year. His terrific pace is now complemented by a robust approach that has seen him burst through tackles, but it is his dynamic running lines that set him apart.

So, as much as Cane is a threat on the ground, opposite number Notshe will be hard to stop, and he doesn’t feel overawed by the duel. “It’s really big. If I get chosen, I will be playing against an international guy who has played Test matches and won a World Cup with the All Blacks,” Notshe said this week.

“It’s important that you don’t have big eyes when you face an oke like that. It’s rugby at the end of the day – you’ve got to perform when given the opportunity. It’s one of those moments you live for – you want to play against the best and I think he’s a top-quality player.

“It (physicality) is something that coach Fleckie and I discussed at the beginning of the season. I must mention him in terms of support – he supported me through this whole season. I don’t think I would’ve broken through to the Springbok squad if he didn’t support me in my six role and covering all three loosie positions.

“I think there’s a growth in me. When you get invited to an international set-up, it bring a bit of confidence in you.”

But the likes of Brodie Retallick, Dominic Bird, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Aaron Cruden, James Lowe and Damian McKenzie are all going to be a handful for the Stormers defence, and Notshe was mindful of not placing too much emphasis on Cane’s possible influence.

“There are plans, but at the same time, you don’t want to be following one guy. It’s the same as to how we dealt with David Pocock against the Brumbies – we didn’t go around following David Pocock. It starts with the ball-carrier, and then your job becomes easier. This is a team sport, so you don’t look after one player,” he said.

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