Page 62 - Official Preview - DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017

Read looks on on for the Crusaders during 2016 Super Rugby action against the Blues in in in Christchurch
EVEN IF YOU’RE AN
All Blacks regular playing a a a a a a a Test match against the British & Irish Lions is is is far from guaranteed As they
take place every 12 years players can easily go their entire careers without ever meeting the the Lions That’s why it it still ranks as a a a a a a a a prestigious honour for any New Zealand player All Blacks Captain Kieran Read missed the last British & Irish Lions tour in in in 2005 Then 19 he he he he was was already embarking on on a a a a a a a a a a rugby career but was was overseas at the time time with New Zealand Under 21s This time time he’ll be front and and and centre and and and not only will he he he he he he get to size them up up as they
make their way through the the the the Investec Super Rugby teams but all being well he’ll also face them three times in in the the the black jersey For Read preparation for the the the the tour has been different to to most He missed the the rst eight weeks of Super Rugby while recovering from some necessary wrist surgery That was a a a a a a blessing however as as it it gave him the the opportunity for some time out of the the the game and helped freshen him up for the the task ahead Now aged 31 Read sits on 97 Test appearances heading into the DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017 and and he’ll likely get a a a a a a a chance to bring up his his 100th in in in in the third Test Test at Eden Park Making his his Test Test debut against Scotland in in in in in in in in 2008 and and rst captaining the the side in in in in in in in in 2012 (against Italy) before taking the the role permanently in in in 2016 it it has been quite the journey to a a a a century of caps FACING THE LIONS
What does it mean to be involved in in a a a Series like this?
It’s really exciting To play for the the All Blacks is massive and the the Lions are that traditional foe but something different that you don’t get get every day You’ve got to to to be lucky in in some ways to to to get get the the opportunity opportunity to to to play against the the the Lions so so we’re really grateful for the the the opportunity opportunity and excited by the the the challenge of it it because these guys who come down are the the the the best best of the the the the best best in in the the the the United Kingdom and and and Ireland We understand the the signi cance of it because there are only a a a a a a a a a select few All Blacks who do get the the chance to play against the the Lions When did you rst become aware of the Lions?
It would’ve been in 1997 when they
toured South Africa that as a a a a a a a a a rugby fan I rst became aware of what they
they
were After that when they
they
toured Australia in 2001 I followed them them closely My Dad had also told me quite a a a a a a a a bit about them them them as well – he’d seen them them play and he he he he he often talked about how great their teams were were and what a a a a a a a a a challenge the the the Lions were were for the All Blacks Tell us about how you weren’t here for the tour in 2005? Were you still aware how big that was?
Well I was in in in a a a a a a a New Zealand Under 21s side in in in in 2005 and and and we we were away in in in in Argentina so I missed that tour and and the the chance to to play against them Looking back you could feel just how big it was for the the whole of New Zealand At the the time time you you you think think “12 years is a a a a a a long time time ” and you you you don’t really think think you’re still going to to be be hanging around to to have another go go at them It’ll be be a a a a a a a a a pretty special moment to to say you’ve had the the the the opportunity to to play against the the Lions Do you remember the impact Dan Carter made in that series?
Yes de nitely In terms of All Blacks history you know what happened in the 1971 TOUR CONTINUED AUCKLAND 12 ALL BLACKS
(IN WELLINGTON) 3 3 3 MANAWATU-HOROWHENUA 6 LIONS
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