One thing missing from Read’s CV is a drop goal

Tokyo – New Zealand legend Kieran Read (above) wants to sign off with a drop goal when he leads out the All Blacks for the last time – but fears his leg might fall off.

Party-poopers England ruined Read’s 34th birthday last weekend by stunning the defending champions 19-7 in Yokohama, but through the bitter sting of tears the towering number eight appears to have had an epiphany, of sorts.

Asked about how he would mark his farewell appearance in Friday’s third-place playoff with Wales, Read joked that he could channel his inner Jonny Wilkinson – or Dan Carter – in Tokyo.

“It’s one thing my teammates have given me an awful lot of grief about, of never getting a drop goal,” he said yesterday.

“I could try but my leg might fall off. Nah, I’ll just do my job.”

Read will captain the All Blacks for the 52nd and last time, overtaking former hooker Sean Fitzpatrick in second place on the all-time list behind Richie McCaw.

But he admitted to still being haunted by his side’s failure to repel a rampaging England in Saturday’s blockbuster semifinal ahead of a fixture against Wales the All Blacks could largely do without.

“It’s been a weird few days,” he said after New Zealand’s first World Cup loss in 12 years.

“It does require a bit of strength, knowing it’s the game we didn’t want to be in. We’re hurting and will be hurting for a long time to come.”

Read admitted he would have mixed emotions this week but insisted the time had come to step down after what will be his 127th appearance in the famous black jersey.

“I’m ready to leave,” he smiled.

“I’ve had my time in the jersey and it’s time for someone else to step in. The mind is willing but the body is saying ‘I can’t do this anymore’.” –