Sam Cane 'isn’t even good enough for Italy'- Stuart Barnes

All Blacks' captain Sam Cane has come under fire for his performances following the series' defeat to Ireland.

Cane has been retained as the All Blacks captain ahead of their two Rugby Championship matches against South Africa despite the Series defeat to Ireland in July.

In the aftermath of the third test defeat several reports suggested that Sam Whitelock would takeover the captaincy in South Africa but in naming his squad, head coach Foster confirmed that Cane would keep the armband.

Meanwhile, former England flyhalf Stuart Barnes believes that Cane isn't good enough to play for Italy.

In his column for The Times, Barnes said that Ardie Savea is among the best open-sides on the planet but is played at No. 8 to accommodate Cane: "Foster has 'got a lot of faith in Sam'. Judged by the recent tour, it is faith of a religious disposition. There’s little in the way of evidence.

He went on to argue that Cane wouln't make most test teams: "The Springboks wouldn’t think of swapping their captain for anyone, let alone New Zealand’s skipper... Tommy Reffell arrived on the Test stage in South Africa with some superb performances for Wales. Would Wales swap their seven for Cane?

"Gregor Townsend made Hamish Watson Scotland’s captain in the absence of Stuart Hogg and the open-side was one of the outstanding players in the series. Thanks, Sam, but you’re not for Scotland either.

"England suffered from open-side injuries but Tom Curry and Sam Underhill are ahead of Cane, while Lewis Ludlam is progressing so quickly New Zealand’s skipper would struggle to make the England squad."

After ruling out Cane's form to fit France, too, Barnes added: "While we are on mainland Europe, let’s be brutally honest. His fellow New Zealander, Kieran Crowley, now in charge of Italy, wouldn’t swap his inspiring Michale Lamero for the brave, battered but decidedly second-hand looking Cane. Good enough for New Zealand, not for Italy."

Barnes said the defeat to Ireland gave the All Blacks a chance for a reboot and an “opportunity to freshen up their leadership both on and off the field”.

“They did neither,” he concluded. “Ian Foster remains in charge off the field, Sam Cane on it.”

He also added that “It’s one of the best definitions of madness...something fails repeatedly so you work harder at doing the same thing. The blinkers are well and truly on.”