Read gets his final chance
A decade ago, Kieran Read stared at the jammed Lancaster Park stands and couldn’t wait for the next Super Rugby final in Christchurch.
It turns out he has had to be patient. Like many people in the stadium that night, Read, who played at blindside flanker when the Crusaders beat the Waratahs 20-12 in 2008, thought it wouldn’t be long before the showcase event returned to the Garden City.
The wait has been a long one, with plenty happening in between.
Lancaster Park was rendered useless in the 2011 earthquakes, and Read then experienced the misery of losing the 2011 and 2014 finals in Brisbane and Sydney before the title drought was broken by the dramatic victory over the Lions in Johannesburg last year.
Now, at last, another final will be played in Christchurch for the rematch against the Lions in front of 19,600 fans at AMI Stadium tomorrow night.
‘‘When I played that final as a 22-year-old, you just turn up as a young fellow, play the game and celebrate and move on,’’ Read said as he reflected on his first final in 2008.
‘‘It didn’t really sink in too much. You thought ‘oh, this will come around again’ but . . . it is a tough competition for a reason. To be here again is exciting.
‘‘You appreciate these weeks. As a Crusader we really enjoy these finals and having another one at home – can’t wait to go out there and play on Saturday.’’
Staying in their own homes and receiving goodwill messages from family and friends should be massive for the Crusaders as they chase their ninth title.
‘‘We constantly get that support and we love it,’’ Read added. ‘‘Picking up the kids from school, it is the same thing, all the kids and parents wishing you luck.’’
For the All Blacks captain, who will start at No 8, getting into the final provides the sweetener to what has been a tough year. Spinal surgery in December means he has only made four appearances for the Crusaders this year, although he had quickly got into top gear.
‘‘One of those driving forces was that I knew if I could get back, I could have a big impact at us having a crack at this championship. It really pushed me.’’
Although the Crusaders, who have won their last 14 games, are hot favourites to beat the Lions, Read said he and his team-mates were steering clear of such talk.
Fielding aggressive ball carriers in forwards Malcolm Marx, Kwagga Smith and Warren Whiteley guarantees Lions plenty of firepower among the forwards.
‘‘Respect where it is due,’’ Read said. ‘‘Guys like Marx, Smith and Whiteley, they are bloody good at what they do in that area. There are little ways you can do things to counteract that – first and foremost, it will start with the boys up front trying to get us go-forward ball.’’