Read set to sit out Italy test on tour
All Blacks captain Kieran Read has confirmed he will sit out next month’s test against Italy in Rome, the second match of the northern tour, before returning to face Ireland in Dublin.
Workloads are the buzz term of modern rugby, and few have endured a bigger toll than Read this year. He waived a planned late start for the Crusaders and featured in 14 of the Crusaders’ 16 matches, averaging 78 minutes, making telling contributions every time he took the field.
The test campaign has offered no rest, either. Read, who celebrated his 31st birthday last Wednesday, led his men in all 10 tests, missing only 10 minutes through a yellow card in Sydney and late substitution in Buenos Aires.
He and Ben Smith are also the only two players to start in all 18 of the All Blacks’ record test win streak.
Read is nursing a few niggles, but We’ve got plenty of loose forwards in the squad so I’m sure I’ll get a rest at some point. aside from the Italy test on November 13 is determined to push on.
‘‘The body is feeling pretty good for this time of year. It certainly is telling me in certain ways it’s near the end of the year and that’s just how it works out,’’ Read told the Sunday Star-Times prior to departing for Chicago, where the All Blacks open their four-test tour against Ireland next Sunday morning, NZ time. ‘‘You play a lot of footy. But I’m looking forward to getting away on tour. When you’re mentality is right generally you come out on top.
‘‘We’ve got plenty of loose forwards in the squad so I’m sure I’ll get a rest at some point. The Italy game is probably the one you’re looking at.’’
With vice-captain Smith and other contenders also likely to be spelled against Italy, Sam Cane could assume the leadership mantle for the second time in his test career, following his first taste against Namibia last year’s World Cup. Chiefs co-captain Aaron Cruden is another option.
Steven Luatua’s recall to the 36-man touring squad gives Steve Hansen eight loose forward options – and that doesn’t include Wellington’s Vaea Fifita, called up as temporary injury cover for injured lock Brodie Retallick.
Throughout this year Hansen has been conscious of managing players; the long-term view being the need to avoid hitting the wall like the All Blacks did in Dublin in 2013. Several changes were made for the away match against Argentina, and the Italy outing looms as another chance to rotate. Hansen has also confirmed he intends to give every player gametime.
‘‘We’ve got to keep it fresh on this tour,’’ Read said. ‘‘We can’t just keeping rolling with what we’ve done. We’ve got a larger group and being overseas can make it a bit tougher on the guys that aren’t playing so I’m sure the coaches will ensure everyone gets in and gets an opportunity to play. That’s what you need.’’
Most expect the All Blacks to roll through and finish the season by extending their unbeaten run to 22 but Read is well aware tougher tests await than those he has experienced during his captaincy reign.
‘‘It certainly hasn’t been easy. You look at the results and it makes it a bit easier in terms of how you’re dealing with certain pressures. I’ve definitely felt the workload of being captain and everything. I’ve relished the opportunity and extra things you have to do.
‘‘There’s certain parts of games where we’ve been in tough situations – obviously not for a full 80 minutes. I know and a lot of the guys have been involved in those situations where a tight game will come along.
‘‘We’ve just got to keep backing our ability to play under pressure and play at a high level. We’re getting better as a group and growing ourselves as people.’’
With the British and Irish Lions tour on the horizon, Read may also have a delayed introduction to the Crusaders next year to ensure he is fresh for the three headline tests.
‘‘It’s an interesting one because we play the majority of our Super season before that Lions tour so there’s a lot of rugby to be played. It’ll just be like normal. I’ll have to talk to Razor [Crusaders coach Scott Robertson].
‘‘We’ve got a lot of guys in our team in that same position so we’ll do what’s best for the team and myself and balance it with what the coach wants.’’