Kieran Read: Up for the job
All Blacks number eight Kieran Read will be honoured if given the opportunity to lead New Zealand on their end-of-year tour.
With regular skipper Richie McCaw set to be rested for the world champions' clash with Italy, the captain's armband will more than likely be handed to Read or Dan Carter.
Carter is the current vice-captain of the side, but is unlikely to be given the burden of captaincy along with his playmaking responsibilities.
Read, arguably New Zealand's player of the season, says he wouldn't change the way he played in the black jersey if chosen to lead the team out in Rome.
"I guess if it happened it would be a massive honour for myself and I would really relish the challenge if I got the opportunity," he said.
"I certainly hope (it doesn't become a burden).
"It's all about doing the business on the field and performing the best you can. Being a leader or not I try and do that every game."
The Crusaders star admits the Bledisloe Cup draw against Australia in Brisbane last month - which ended the All Blacks' winning streak at 16 matches - is still playing on their mind and the tourists are keen to make amends.
"I think speaking to a few guys today we are still pretty disappointed from that performance," he said.
"It's just a little bit of extra motivation. We really want to play our game and really play some positive footy and hopefully we will showcase that up there."
"I think we just want to be winning," Read added.
"I guess that is motivation enough for us to do what we need to do.
"Each week our preparation is pretty key to putting a performance on each Saturday so hopefully we can go up there and show those people up north how to play the game of rugby.
"We want to play a really nice style so hopefully we can do that."
The last time the All Blacks dropped a Test on an end-of-year tour in Europe was 10 years ago when England prevailed 31-28 at Twickenham in 2002.
Comments
Kiwikev says...
@ ArmChairGeneral
If you can deliver then it is not arrogance! Look at the record as it speaks for itself...
Posted 17:45 03rd November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
I suppose we must assume another 100% for the ABs. When any other team talks about "showcasing" and "showing those people how to play the game of rugby" you know they're going to trip up. Somehow when an AB says it he's being humble and he's going to deliver it! But i still say it's arrogant.
Posted 23:16 01st November 2012
Bones7 says...
@APV1, Keith Brook and Glen Jones, our 4th team 7 and 8, although Glen sometimes plays tighthead when the need arises. obviously Read and McCaw aren't going to have their kind of experience, but if they keep performing the way they do they'd probably get a game off the bench for them if they came over
Posted 21:44 01st November 2012
Trader2 says...
Now Ferdie were we as excited that day about "nearly causing a huge upset" as Australia are with drawing at fortress Suncorp?
Posted 21:01 01st November 2012
Carpelone says...
Parisse and Read, probably the best 8 in business. Although I would ever pick Read. He plays as a back when he counterattacks and has a nous for creating danger. Not to mention his brute power. One of my favorite Kiwi player and the captaincy goes better to a forward.
Posted 15:20 01st November 2012
APV1 says...
@ Bones7 - who are these people you speak of, "Jones and Brook"..?
Posted 14:07 01st November 2012
StunTheMullet says...
@ Centre12 - Suspect some early prep for Sir Richies 6 month R&R sabbatical next year....
Posted 12:16 01st November 2012
Ferdie says...
hybrid187 - you're right.
I can't remember the reasoning, but (under John Mitchell) the ABs rested 21 players from their squad for this tour - maybe in response to all the B sides that had toured NZ.
7 players made their test debut for NZ that day - including Andrew Hore and Ali Williams - set up to lose first test at Twickenham!
They lost v England, drew with France, beat Wales.
Found The Guardian review: "If New Zealand had brought their first team, I suppose, it might have been a little more ordinary. But they didn't, and it wasn't. The All Black mix-and-match XV came and very nearly caused a crisis in the English game. Put bluntly, a New Zealand team missing 21 top players came within an ace of beating a full-strength England at home".
On the positive side, they came close to a huge upset that day.
Posted 11:17 01st November 2012
NHsaints says...
Read would make a good captain, he's a brilliant player and the only forward with the test experience likely to play a full 80, obviously someone like Messam would also be a good option but I agree that giving Carter the captaincy might not work. Ps: to the editor the amount of incorrect use of brackets in some of these articles is shameful, try using the 'word removal' test to see if you actually need what you've put in brackets. Quote: "I certainly hope (it doesn't become a burden)" remove (it doesn't become a burden) and you get "I certainly hope" which has no contextual sense to it.
Posted 10:56 01st November 2012
Bones7 says...
Great player and seems like a great bloke too. Will the history books look back on McCaw and Read like they do on Jones and Brook I wonder? It seems a sensible decision and and I would have thought Carter invariably will be wrapped in cotton wool and packed away for a while after this series. Best of luck to him if he is picked, hopefully we'll get to see him go head to head against Parisse who looks in good form.
Posted 10:36 01st November 2012
hybrid187 says...
NZ hasnt lost in Europe (besides WC 07?) since 2002 ?
Posted 09:22 01st November 2012
Centre12 says...
Is it anticipated that McCaw will feature in the next WC???
Posted 08:49 01st November 2012