Read ready for ABs
No one in Camp All Black has the slightest concern about Read’s state of readiness for the team’s biggest test since the 2015 World Cup final at Twickenham.
That’s how much faith they have in their skipper who is back, fit and firing around the training field, and will, barring the unforeseen, lead his team out in the first test against the mighty British and Irish Lions on Saturday night at Eden Park.
Read, of course, has hardly played in 2017. He made a late entry into Super Rugby after offseason wrist surgery, and then fractured his thumb three games into his return, putting him in a race against time for the onceevery-12-years shot at the Lions.
Asked if Read was ever going to miss the series opener, assistant coach Ian Foster told media at the team hotel on Tuesday: ‘‘He didn’t want to miss it. He’s desperate to play and he’s our leader. But the diagnosis has always been that he was due back to play this game.
‘‘We’ve just been monitoring that progress. He was touch and go for last week, to get a few minutes under his belt. But it didn’t happen.
‘‘We’re pretty satisfied. He had his first real solid hitout with contact [at Tuesday training], and hopefully he comes through that really well and it becomes a reasonably easy decision.’’
All of which makes the All Blacks an even tougher obstacle for the Lions. Not only is Read one of the biggest, toughest most adept No 8s in the game, but he’s a man his players will happily go to their dark places to back up.
‘‘Reado has been a big part of our leadership group for a long time now,’’ added Foster. ‘‘The way he grew into the role last year (post Richie McCaw’s retirement), the biggest accolade I can give him is that he grew the people around him. He’s very inclusive in his leadership style, and earned a lot of respect for that.
Long-time national and franchise team-mate Sam Whitelock had no doubt about Read’s timeline, nor what he would bring in what’s sure to be a physical matchup on Saturday night.
‘‘Now he’s ready to go he’ll bring that Kieran Read way of playing,’’ said Whitelock.
‘‘He’ll lead from the front. It’s awesome when he does that. He plays great rugby when he’s being himself and taking the lead.’’
Fellow loose forward Sam Cane had his own theory about Read.
‘‘His standards are so high, there’s just not much difference between his good and his best games.
‘‘Even when he came back a few rounds in with the Crusaders it took him hardly anything to get back in his stride.’’
Foster confirmed all but the still rehabbing Dane Coles and Liam Squire had participated fully in a quality training on Tuesday.