Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

Kieran Read's return to provincial rugby crashed by thirsty Tasman on the hunt

By Online Editors
Kieran Read. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Kieran Read’s first provincial game in 11 years ended with a somewhat predictable defeat to defending champions Tasman but the former All Blacks captain savoured his long-awaited debut for Counties Manukau.

ADVERTISEMENT

On a crisp night in Pukekohe, Read returned to his roots as he made his debut for the province where he grew up, following a decade-long career with Canterbury.

The 34-year-old enjoyed a preseason hit-out against Bay of Plenty last week, in his first match since February, but this outing in his favoured No 8 jersey marked his first proper gallop for Counties Manukau.

Video Spacer

Kieran Read makes NZ Rugby comeback for Counties Manukau Steelers

Video Spacer

Kieran Read makes NZ Rugby comeback for Counties Manukau Steelers

Read was on restricted minutes as his body adjusts to taking contact again and he will sit out two away fixtures this season while he commutes from Christchurch. He will, therefore, miss Counties Manukau’s next match in Napier before returning against Northland the following week, but is otherwise available for the full campaign.

Read and the Counties team had to recover from a gastro bug that ripped through the team this week. The two-time World Cup winner was replaced at halftime — after helping lock Potu Leavasa crash over in the first half of the 41-24 defeat.

“It was a very proud moment in my career. It has been a long time,” Read said. “You just don’t get to play this footy when you’re with the All Blacks. I enjoyed getting alongside all the boys this week and getting to know them. It’s a big side of New Zealand rugby, this level and the grassroots. I definitely feel that connection to the region from the guys here and how much it means.

“I had a lot of friends and family who would’ve liked to have been here but my parents are here fortunately so it was nice to have them come and watch.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The body is feeling really good. We’re working with my Japanese club in terms of minutes so 40 today and we’ll work to progress that as we go through,” Read said.

“When I am available from now on I’m good to play as long as they want me to. We prepared really well and in patches of that game where right in it especially going into halftime we fought our way back.

“A couple of soft tries we let them in so we’ll work on that.”

While Read was a focal figure, All Blacks flanker Dalton Papalii impressed in his debut for Counties Manukau after switching from Auckland this season. Papalii claimed one try and hit hard to continue his strong Super Rugby form with the Blues.

Shannon Frizell and Will Jordan were among Tasman’s best but there wasn’t the fluency you would expect from a side that went unbeaten last season and last lost in October 2018.

ADVERTISEMENT

The scoreboard suggests otherwise but Tasman will expect more from a side stacked with Super Rugby players and four All Blacks.

Counties rallied from a slow start, but Tasman were always in control with Highlanders playmaker Mitch Hunt kicking the visitors clear before Leicester Faingaanuku and Frizell blew out the margin in the second half.

Tasman arrived with intent to start their title defence in dominant fashion.

The Mako are well known for their flamboyant backline talent, which now includes off-season recruits Sevu Reece and Mark Telea, but it was the forwards who set the platform with Crusaders hooker Andrew Makalio claiming the first two tries from rolling mauls.

When lock Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta crashed over after a Baden Kerr intercept pass for Tasman’s third try inside 20 minutes for a 21-3 lead, a long night loomed for the Steelers.

After spending much of the first half on the back foot defending, Counties finally sprung into life. Tries on debut from Leavasa and Papalii narrowed the margin to 21-17 at halftime.

Counties claimed the final try through Viliami Taulani, and the final five-tries-to-three defeat offers heart they will be competitive this season.

Tasman 41 (Andrew Makalio 2, Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Leicester Faingaanuku, Shannon Frizell tries; Mitchell Hunt 4 cons, 2 pens, Tim O’Malley con)
Counties Manukau 24 (Potu Leavasa, Dalton Papalii, Viliami Taulani tries; Baden Kerr 3 cons, pen)
HT: 21-17

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

j
john 14 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

13 Go to comments
A
Adrian 2 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

13 Go to comments
T
Trevor 4 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.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 8 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.

29 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING 'It's an All Black discussion': The pair of young Hurricanes tipped for black jerseys The pair of young Hurricanes tipped for black jerseys
Search