Read is backed to shake off rust

NEW ZEALAND have admitted to concern over the fitness of captain Kieran Read for tomorrow’s Test.

Read, who was the All Blacks water boy against Samoa last week, has not played for eight weeks since suffering a thumb injury.

While the New Zealand management insist he is ready to play, there is bound to be a degree of rustiness in one of their key players.

“Everyone out there will be a bit worried about that but we’ve planned right from the moment he broke his thumb to this point,” said coach Steve Hansen.

“The trainers, rehab man and doctor have been working together to get him in a condition that he’ll be able to go 80 minutes at a level that we expect from him. He’s a world-class player, so that’s a high level.

“He’s jumping out of his skin – he can’t wait, like all our players. You can imagine how excited he is because not only is he playing, he’s leading the team.”

Read was in Argentina with the New Zealand Under-20s for the last All Blacks-Lions Test series 12 years ago but, like the rest of his team, has been brought up to speed with what the rivalry is all about.

A particular emphasis has been placed on the 1971 series – the only one won by the Lions.

“We have a massive amount of respect for the Lions’ history, we’ve done a lot of talking about it amongst ourselves,” said Hansen. “You can feel the enthusiasm and the real hunger in the players. They’re really up for it.

“That doesn’t guarantee you win the thing but it does guarantee that your attitude is right – and we know that if our attitude is right and we get our clarity right, then we’re a good side.”