Just good memories
to the Vatican City, and things you just would never have done if you weren’t living this life.
‘‘I’ll probably hold on to those [memories] a lot more than the medals and things like that.’’
Of course the good times don’t last forever. In 2017’s Read’s All Blacks were not able to prevail in an epic, deadlocked series against the British and Irish Lions; exposing perhaps the cracks in the fac¸ade that were so brutally broken down by England in last year’s semifinal in Yokohama.
The lines are fine. The referee doesn’t inexplicably change his call late in the deciding Lions test at Eden Park, the All Blacks in all likelihood squeeze out a memorable series victory.
‘‘It was great to be part of a series like that, so keenly fought out,’’ says Read. ‘‘It shows, man, this game over the last four or five years has got so competitive internationally … much more than perhaps the early part of my career.
‘‘Looking back on the Lions, there are always things we could have done differently, but when it came down to it, a referee sometimes makes a call and that’s what you’ve got to deal with. I’m certainly no less proud of what we achieved in that series.’’
Read’s response is revealing when you ask him how he’d like to be remembered in the annals of our rugby history.
‘‘That’s probably for others to judge,’’ he prefaces his response with. ‘‘I always wanted to be someone who put the team first and a guy who always put his body on the line and consistently did that every time he ran out. That’s how I’d like be remembered.’’
Read was very good for a very long time. His 127 test caps are the third most in All Blacks history. He won 107 of those encounters. He was part of a Crusaders team for 13 years that was unerring in its relentless competitiveness. You can count his bad games on a single hand.
The secret of that success? ‘‘Early on I probably found a drive, a hunger and a love for the game. I wasn’t necessarily a star back at school, but getting down to Canterbury helped, getting into a system there where you were walking round looking up at all these All Blacks.
‘‘That was inspiring. I’ve always been driven to get the best out of myself. It was a great era to be part of and I’m very proud of being across some pretty good years for the All Blacks and Crusaders.’’
Read lauds his team-mates and coaches who have all contributed so heavily to his success; and pays healthy tribute to wife Bridget who has been the rock at home with their three children while he has continued to chase his greatness. ‘‘The kids are certainly looking forward to seeing dad around home a bit more, and I’m excited by that too.’’
Also honoured in the Queens Birthday round was long-term Olympics administrator, and former New Zealand hockey representative, Barry Maister who was awarded the Companion of the NZ Order of Merit, as was Waikato racing identity David Ellis.
Jeanne Begej (ice figure skating), Joan Harnett-Kindley (netball), Tony Lepper (sports administration) and Beverley May (cycling) were named Officers of the NZ Order of Merit, while Black Sticks hockey stars Kayla Whitelock and Emily Gaddum were made Members of the NZ Order of Merit.