EDITOR’S LETTER

THERE IS NOTHING tougher in sport than trying to fill the boots of one of the best. That is going to be Kieran Read’s job, though, as he assumed the captaincy of the All Blacks from one Richard Hugh McCaw.

It’s a tough gig because the nation wasn’t ready to say goodbye to McCaw. He played as well in his last game as he did in his first and at no stage in his 15 years did his standards slip. There was no staggering to the tape, everyone a little embarrassed for him, looking at their feet just hoping he’d take the hint and shuffle off.

It was a glorious end to a glorious career and now Read must take over a team that apparently doesn’t have much room for growth. How could the All Blacks improve on last year? How can they play more consistently and more dangerously?

These are questions that Read will have asked himself many times in the last few months and the answer he’ll have reached is that by wanting to be better, the All Blacks can fulfil that goal. That’s it. Desire will be everything because here’s the crazy thing – the All Blacks of 2016 look better equipped personnel wise than the All Blacks of 2015.

Not as experienced or as mature – but in terms of out and out talent, they are supremely well set up.

What’s become obvious watching Super Rugby is that the skill level of New Zealand players across the board is quite outrageous. And it’s not just the likes of Aaron Cruden, Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett who are impressing. What sets New Zealand rugby apart is the skill level across the board and particularly in the forwards.

On any given weekend, you will see New Zealand forwards give and take a pass under the most extreme pressure. It’s common now for a big lug of a forward to be able to throw an outrageous offload.

And it makes a huge difference. When the likes of Owen Franks can flick the ball across his body to put a man in space – it is the difference between scoring and giving away a scrum. When someone such as Brodie Retallick can stop in full charge, rise on to his tip toes and drop the softest pass over the head of a defender to send someone into space, it changes everything.

In this first blast of Super Rugby it has been a source of constant amazement at just how good so many players are on the ball. New Zealand has leapt forward in skill execution and by the looks of it, conditioning. The extended break after the World Cup has enabled the top players to get themselves in prime condition and as much as the skill level has to be acknowledged, so too does the support running. Passes are going to hand because there are hands there for the ball to get into.

Even deep into the game, New Zealand teams are playing wide and fast.

Desire is everything, then, when it comes to the All Blacks this year. They have the players to win so if they are to fulfil their potential, it will come down to their attitude and leadership.

In regard to the first, there will be no issues. A handful of players have waited a long time for their chance. They want to show the world what they can do and write another unbelievable chapter.

That’s why the likes of Ben Smith, Julian Savea and Beauden Barrett turned down the chance to play at the Olympics – they want to take ownership of this team and establish themselves in history.

In regard to he question of leadership – that should go pretty well, too. Read is smart and experienced. He’s also his own man and while he’s been influenced by McCaw and shares certain characteristics, he’ll lead the team his way. And he’ll do it well.

The first thing will be for him to find his best form again and become the commanding player he was in 2013. That was the year he romped over everyone, playing wider than anyone realised he could and displaying the most phenomenal skills.

If he can get back to being that player, watch his confidence grow and his command of the team tighten. Read is the sort of bloke who won’t try to do everything in June. He’ll know that he has time to establish his captaincy and refine it.

He’ll slowly grow into the role – become that little bit more comfortable with all aspects of the job and come to enjoy it. And likewise, as he settles, the nation will come to enjoy him.

Memories of McCaw will fade, comparisons will be made less often and by the end of the series in June, Read will have everyone looking forward not back. Gregor Paul, Editor