Remember those battles Richie McCaw had with George Smith and Schalk Burger and the arguments which followed about who had the advantage and who was the more complete rugby player?
They were times when rugby allowed a clearer definition of the open-side flanker's duties when comparisons were more direct. McCaw though had to alter his game to shed some traditional duties and embrace an altered workload as he moved into the closing stages of his magnificent career.
We've kicked off a slew of June internationals where seasoned and novice men wearing No 7 on their national jerseys have shown us their calibre. Time then to open the debates about who has impressed the most and taken our attention.
It's been hard to get a handle on Sam Cane's production for the All Blacks. Bald statistics don't suggest lead roles in carries, lineouts, metres made and tackles although he was third in that defensive count in Wellington behind Kieran Read and Joe Moody.
The All Blacks were beaten in the turnovers at Eden Park and even at the Cake Tin.
