Captain Kieran in black jersey for long haul
Kieran Read feels a million dollars right now. And he should soon be banking an annual pay cheque to match it when he gets his next contract with New Zealand Rugby over the line in a matter of weeks.
At a time when attention is focused on looming off-contract All Blacks (it’s 2-2 on the scoreboard so far), Read makes it clear he’s going nowhere. He’s waited a long time to take the biggest gig in rugby captaining the greatest side on the planet, and he has plenty still to achieve there, and elsewhere.
‘‘It’s progressing well,’’ he tells the Star-Times of negotiations more about the fine print than the bottom line. ‘‘I’ve let them sort out the important guys first, Bender (Ben Smith) and Izzy (Israel Dagg), and now they’ll flip the page and go on to me. It should hopefully be done in a month.’’
It’s not a complicated negotiation. As All Blacks captain Read The body feels great and it’s nice to have a good lead-in to a season. will be the highest-paid player in this land, and NZ Rugby will not cut any corners with a man of his import. He will be locked in through 2019 on a deal that reflects his responsibility.
In fact, the chief discussion points involve some of the subclauses that stud the modern deals – sabbaticals, breaks, management of a body that’s been through its fair share of combat
‘‘Those extra things are important, especially at this stage of my career,’’ Read concedes. ‘‘I have to be smart, and make sure I’m able to turn up in a few years’ time in the best space I can be physically and playing the best footy I’ve played in my life. I’ll make decisions that are best for me, the All Blacks, and the Crusaders.’’
The powerful No 8 cuts a relaxed figure ahead of one of the biggest seasons of his rugby life. He has a British and Irish Lions tour to peak for in June-July – he will earn his 100th test cap during the once-ina-career series — and some Super Rugby redemption to achieve along the way.
Much of that laidback demeanour is thanks to some timely wrist surgery that has afforded a decent break and a sustained lead-in till his scheduled mid-April return to action for the Crusaders. He’s also now a father of three (excused the recent All Black wellbeing camp to tend to new baby Reuben), and any family time he gets these days is like found money.
‘‘It’s a blessing in disguise, to be honest,’’ he says of the extra time his wrist surgery has allowed him. ‘‘The body feels great, and it’s nice to have a good lead-in to a season.’’
You ask how he views the balance between playing well in Super Rugby, and being at his best for the Lions.
‘‘The best way I’ve always found to play well later in the year is to be playing at a really high level in Super Rugby. My role coming in later will be to fit into the Crusaders team as quickly as I can and get some form under my belt.’’
There’s an interesting scenario awaiting the All Blacks mid-year. The Lions will be supremely prepared, with that six-match lead-in to the first test. Hansen’s men will be fresh out of Super Rugby. The challenge will be shaking off that traditional June rust for the Eden Park series opener.
‘‘We’ve got a bit longer than usual – a couple of weeks at least. We’ll know what we’re trying to achieve and then you’re not so worried about clarity and it’s all about preparing for a normal test week and turning up.’’
In 2005 Graham Henry had a trial and hit-out against Fiji ahead of the Lions, who they swept with ease. So far Hansen has not sign-posted a warmup game, but Read trusts his coach to get the formula right. ‘‘If we need a hitout I’m sure we’ll find a way to get that under our belts.’’
The 31-year-old reflects with satisfaction on his first year as national skipper – 13 wins from 14 – though concedes the Chicago defeat offered the biggest lesson.
‘‘A loss magnifies a few things. It highlights things around one-off games, different parts of the world, big crowds, and also adapting to being down in big moments. It was a good learning.’’ Welcome to the jungle, wrote Axl Rose, in one of Guns N’ Roses biggest hits, we’ve got fun and games.
So it is for the Lions this year. Already facing a brutal schedule, they now basically face five tests, now we’ve found they’ll face battlehardened, full-strength, All Blackfortified, Blues and Crusaders sides in games two and three on tour, the Blues on a Tuesday, then the Crusaders on the Saturday.
There will have been 14 full rounds of Super Rugby by the time the Lions arrive here.
Which means the local sides will be knife-edge sharp while the Lions’ players will be trying to recover from a long, long northern season.
And don’t think for one second a Lions’ scalp wouldn’t be pure gold for the teams from Auckland and Christchurch.
Blues’ coach Tana Umaga is into his second Super season, which is