Page 35 - All Blacks v Lions - First Test

PROFILE
Having tasted nothing but victory at Test level at Eden Park, nobody is looking forward to tonight’s match more than All Blacks Captain Kieran Read.
KIERAN READ LOVES
playing on Eden Park. Most of his team does, too. Why
wouldn’t they, given their extraordinary 38-match unbeaten streak, which goes way back to 1994? Read was still at primary school then, and has appeared in 14 of those matches since 2009. Along the way, he has become one of the game’s most respected individuals, a two-time New Zealand player of the year and the best on the planet in 2013.
There have been some memorable displays on Eden Park by the All Blacks No 8 and Captain. In 2010, he con rmed his rising world-class status with a towering 80 minutes in the 32-12 shut-out of the Springboks, up against the high- ying Pierre Spies. In the dramatic Rugby World Cup 2011 Final, Read was one of the best All Blacks forwards. He stands tall for this team on this ground.
It goes without saying that he’ll be required to do so again tonight. “I think Eden Park certainly does feel like a home ground for the All Blacks. We feel comfortable here. We spend a lot of our time up here in Auckland and the crowd is always immense and gets right behind us. We want to keep our home record strong,” the 31-year-old says.
The Lions, for their part, have won just one Test match on this ground – the 9-6 result in 1959, when the series was already lost but the joie de vivre of their star-studded backline remained.
Read will don the black jersey for his 98th Test tonight. Only six men have played more internationals for New Zealand. If all goes to plan, he’ll play his 100th in the third Test at the same venue. “That milestone will be exciting if I can get there,” he says, “but right now this DHL New Zealand Lions Series is motivating me. It’s all about the team. It’s nice to nally get to the Test match.
WORDS: CAMPBELL BURNES
It’s been great to see the Lions on tour and we know how tough it will be.”
Read has watched the tourists closely in their rst six games and can see them building nicely. “They’ve stood out in a few areas. Their defence has been very solid and their ability to kick and chase well was a key point of difference in the win over the Maori All Blacks. They’ll be a different beast with great structure tonight, and will have guys playing out of their skin to win a Test match. That’s what our guys will have to bring as well,” he declares.
While Billy Vunipola was ruled out with injury before he even boarded the plane in England last month, Read is familiar with the bruising ball-carrying
“It’s the pinnacle for some of these guys and it’s the same on our side of the equation.”
Read touches down for the All Blacks during the Rugby World Cup 2015
and defensive qualities of No 8s Taulupe Faletau and CJ Stander. Faletau was at the back of the Wales scrum in the three Tests in June 2016, while Stander was on the side of the scrum for Ireland in their famous 40-29 victory over the
All Blacks in Chicago. The pack as a whole has physical presence.
“They are big men physically and will look to impose themselves. They have done a lot of the ball-carrying over the games they’ve played on tour. It’s always good to test yourself against quality opposition,” Read says. “It’s the pinnacle for some of these guys and it’s the same on our side of the equation. Teams give their best performances against the All Blacks, and that’s what we’re expecting tonight. Tests can often come down to just a few moments, so we have to be disciplined not to give away too many chances.”
Read says he’s in top shape mentally and physically. Wrist surgery delayed the start of his Crusaders’ season; upon his return, he hit top form with three tries in his three games and 125 minutes of action before fracturing his thumb,
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