A move to the blindside could be on the cards for Kieran Read - but he isn't happy about it
Ardie Savea’s continued excellence has raised the prospect of an All Black loose forward combination featuring himself, Kieran Read and Sam Cane, but skipper Read, while happy to shift if required, says he would be happier at No 8 rather than blindside flanker.
As Read put the finishing touches on his team’s preparations for his first test of the year, a crunch match against the Springboks in Wellington tomorrow, he was asked about a possible move.
“I’ll do whatever for this team but right now it’s at No 8,” he said. “I’m excited to be playing there; it’s a role I want to be playing so we’ll see what happens later in the year, but I’m just excited to be on the track for the first time this year in the black jersey.”
Asked if such a move would be difficult, he replied: “For myself it would be simple. I could switch anywhere, to be honest, in this team. When you gain experience and time in the jersey it’s not too hard to do that.
“I really enjoy playing No 8. That’s where I see myself and get the best out of myself so I can’t wait for that tomorrow.”
Read is one of six Crusaders who slot into the pack after sitting out last week’s test against the Pumas and with the clock ticking down to the World Cup – there are only four tests remaining – he is not surprisingly eager to get his test year under way.
“Most of the guys who had that week off are really fizzing and excited. The bodies are in good nick and to be in this position of the season and knowing there’s actually not much footy left before that World Cup; for us we know we have to put it on the line this week.”
The All Blacks famously lost their test against the Boks in Wellington last year and there will be a big onus on Richie Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett in particular to make the right decisions at Westpac Stadium in order to start and finish well.
“There are always lessons that can be learned from last year and that comes back to I guess our own approach, our mental approach. The guys who played in that game will certainly be feeling it again. It’s nice to have in the back of your minds but it’s a new year and new opportunity to play for your country.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Read said of Crusaders teammate Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett starting together. “It’s been great at training through the week having those guys there. There is a lot of direction around the part with those two guys there so if they can give us that it would be awesome. Obviously they’re great attacking players so it’s a pretty dangerous side.”
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and is republished with permission.
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
36 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
36 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
36 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
36 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
36 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
36 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
36 Go to comments