Kieran Read’
his decision-making under pressure and, ultimately, founded many of the guiding principles for the unrivalled success that followed.
Ideally, such wisdom could be handed down without the suffering. But sport, and life, often doesn’t work that way.
Read has some major events ahead of him – next year’s British and Irish Lions series and the 2019 World Cup just two. Between now and then, Hansen expects the anointed 30-year-old to evolve significantly.
‘‘He’s not the finished article by any stretch of the imagination,’’ Hansen said. ‘‘If you think back to our previous leaders they think they’ve got the job sorted but then something happens and they have to have a really good look to improve more.
‘‘There will be challenges for Reado along the way that force him to grow and look inwardly and come out a better product.’’
Being liked is not central to the captaincy brief. Respect is. Read, a world-class No 8, has that covered after 84 tests. He commands his starting role; connects well with team-mates and is comfortable voicing a direct opinion to anyone when it needs to be said.
‘‘At this stage he’s respected and if he continues to play well then that respect will continue to grow,’’ Hansen said.
Self-awareness is another important part of the job and Read is already devising mental strategies to avoid the role weighing him down, and aid him talking to referees; an area of influence where McCaw excelled.
‘‘It’s a challenging part of the game for the captain so it’s something I’ve got to really work on and look to nail because it can have an impact,’’ Read said.
‘‘There will be tough times I’m sure and you’ve got to do a bit extra but I’m talking to Steve and Gilbert [Enoka] about the ways to keep fresh and make sure I’m in a good head-space.
‘‘I know how much it means to my family, parents and friends so it’s pretty cool to know you’ve touched a lot of them but I’ve got to be real with it all.
‘‘I’ve just got to go out there and play. I can certainly have an impact as captain but more so by doing my bit on the field.’’
Read will, of course, not be alone. His challenge alongside new vice-captain Ben Smith is to groom a largely fresh leadership group that features Sam Cane, Aaron Cruden, Beauden Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Dane Coles, Aaron Smith, Jerome Kaino, and Sonny Bill Williams, when he returns from sevens.
Time will tell whether that group can cultivate the same inner belief to win tight tests, even when down and out.
‘‘Already a few days into it you can see guys are willing to put their hand up and we need that from those boys because we can’t lean on those with older experience now. It’s a different feeling but a positive one.
‘‘These boys who have done their time we probably haven’t seen their leadership qualities on the field yet but it’s been brewing in them.
‘‘Those that step up will have big impact on this group for a number of years.’’
It was a really good time but from now I want to be my own person. I can’t try emulate what he’s done. I’ve just got to be Kieran Read.’ KIERAN READ