1
All Blacks captain Kieran Read set for long-awaited return to rugby against Hurricanes
By Online Editors
All Blacks captain Kieran Read will make his long-awaited return to rugby this weekend after being named to start for the Crusaders against the Hurricanes at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.
It will be the All Blacks skipper's first appearance in four months after being granted extended leave by New Zealand Rugby as they look to preserve their key players ahead of their World Cup title defence in Japan later this year.
Read's last strapped on the boots for the All Blacks against Italy in November last year, and his return to the Crusaders comes after the reigning Super Rugby champions welcomed back captain Sam Whitelock into their side for the first time in 2019.
"Can't wait, " Read told Stuff of his impending return to the playing field.
"I feel like I'm in as good nick as I've been in my career. It was the aim this year, it's what the off-season was about.
"I'm very thankful to have had the time. Right now, it's time to get out there and do it on the field."
"6018015320001"]
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Jake White: Ireland, Australia and Wales have the same problem
3
David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner
4
Let's be real about these All Blacks
5
Latest Comments
i think Argentina v France could be a good game too, depending on which Argentina turns up. The most difficult to call is Scotland Australia.
Go to commentsSmith is playing a different game with the rest of the backs struggling to understand. That's the problem with so called playmakers, if nobody gets what they're doing then it often just leads to a turnover. It gets worse when Borthwick changes one of them, which is why they don't score points at the end. Sometimes having a brilliant playmaker can be problematic if a team cannot be built around them. Once again Borthwick seems lacking in either coaching or selection. I can't help but think it's the latter coupled with pressure to select the big name players.
Lastly, his forward replacements are poor and exposed either lack of depth or selection pressure. Cole hemorrhages scrum penalties whenever he comes on, opponents take advantage of the England scrum and close out the game. Is that the best England can offer?
Go to comments