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All Blacks captain Kieran Read set for long-awaited return to rugby against Hurricanes

By Online Editors
Kieran Read. (Photo by Martin Hunter/Getty Images)

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.

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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.”

Read’s inclusion at No. 8 pushes Whetukamokamo Douglas into blindside flanker, with uncapped All Black Jordan Taufua moving onto the bench in place of Tom Sanders, who has been ruled out with a dislocated shoulder he sustained in the Crusaders’ 20-12 loss to the Waratahs last week.

Read’s All Blacks teammates Scott Barrett and Richie Mo’unga have also been named for the Kiwi derby after being given a week off, but experienced props Joe Moody (ankle) and Owen Franks (shoulder) have been ruled out.

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They will join fellow All Blacks front rower and Hurricanes captain Dane Coles on the sideline, who misses out on the clash with a minor calf strain.

Instead, Ricky Riccitelli will start for a second week in a row, and will join blindside flanker Vaea Fifita in making their 50th Hurricanes appearances in doing so.

All Blacks TJ Perenara, Ngani Laumape and Asafo Aumua are all named in the match-day squad after missing last week’s 34-28 win over the Stormers, while Jordie Barrett reverts back to right wing from the midfield to replace the benched yet in-form Wes Goosen.

Hurricanes: 1. Fraser Armstrong, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Ben May, 4. James Blackwell, 5. Liam Mitchell, 6. Vaea Fifita, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Reed Prinsep, 9. TJ Perenara, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Ben Lam, 12. Ngani Laumape, 13. Matt Proctor, 14. Jordie Barrett, 15. Chase Tiatia

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Reserves: 16. Asafo Aumua, 17. Chris Eves, 18. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19. Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20. Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21. Richard Judd, 22. Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23. Wes Goosen

Crusaders: 1. Harry Allen, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Michael Alaalatoa, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Sam Whitelock, 6. Whetukamokamo Douglas, 7. Matt Todd, 8. Kieran Read, 9. Bryn Hall, 10. Richie Mo’unga, 11. George Bridge, 12. Ryan Crotty, 13. Jack Goodhue, 14. Braydon Ennor, 15. David Havili

Reserves: 16. Andrew Makalio, 17. George Bower, 18. Oli Jager, 19. Quinten Strange, 20. Jordan Taufua, 21. Mitchell Drummond, 22. Brett Cameron, 23. Will Jordan

France chasing high-profile Kiwi coaches for 2023 World Cup:

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Trevor 2 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 6 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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