Scott Barrett urges New Zealand to celebrate Sam Cane's 100 Test with a win

Scott Barrett shared that the All Blacks are determined to finish the Rugby Championship on a high note and celebrate former captain Sam Cane’s 100th Test with a complete and dominant performance against Australia.

Speaking after a light training session at Wellington’s Sky Stadium, Barrett emphasized the significance of Cane’s milestone, which will be his final home match before heading to Japan on a long-term contract.

He will still likely feature in the All Blacks’ November tour. The same is true for veteran halfback TJ Perenara, who is also set to depart at the end of the year.

“He’s got an immense amount of respect and mana within the team,” Barrett said, reflecting on Cane’s influence.

“He knows when to challenge the group, and he’s been a great person to bounce ideas off. He challenges me as well at times.

"His value to this team is immense, and we want to put in a performance that truly honors him on his 100th Test.”

“It’s very much a collaborative approach… Sam adds valuable insight and still leads by example with his actions.”

The All Blacks are currently at third position in the table with two wins from five games. But they would be relieved to have retained the Bledisloe Cup during their close win in Sydney last weekend.

“We have to front up tomorrow night,” he said. “We want to finish strong. We’ve started games well but… particularly that last quarter, it has let us down. It’s not a small fix, it’s a gradual one with habits coming in," he added.

“We don’t want to fall into the trap of believing that the Australians aren’t going to challenge us tomorrow night. We’ve given them the respect with our preparation. We have to front up.”