Courageous Sam Cane helps New Zealand to unbeaten run

Flanker Sam Cane's outstanding performance underlined the depth of the All Blacks squad as he helped them finish their domestic test season unbeaten with a 41-33 victory over Australia in their Bledisloe Cup clash in Dunedin yesterday.

The 21-year-old Cane was a late inclusion for Richie McCaw after the inspirational skipper suffered a calf injury at training on Thursday, though it failed to provide any disruption to the world champions' performance.

Cane was earmarked by Hansen last year as McCaw's successor, though he had struggled to stamp his authority on games or indicate he was adjusting to the test level.

But his performances in five tests this season have been widely praised by the All Blacks management.

He provided the impetus for his side in the third and final match against Australia - which was a "dead rubber" after the All Blacks clinched the symbol of trans-Tasman supremacy earlier in the year - with his defence, linking play, work at the breakdown and storming runs.

"He is just getting better and better with game time and experience and it's nice to know we have got another one in the cupboard," coach Steve Hansen said of Cane's performance.

It means the All Blacks have now not lost a test at home since 2009, a run of 30 matches. The victory also kept the Wallabies winless against the All Blacks in New Zealand since 2001.