The importance of Kieran Read to world champions the All Blacks was emphasized in his third full international season when he sustained a sprained ankle in the Tri-Nations decider against Australia shortly before the 2011 World Cup.
As the headlines reminded a public looking forward to hosting the tournament, it could take up to three months to recover from an injury of that magnitude.
However, Read was named in the side anyway, despite not being available until the final pool game against Canada. In the knockout phase he was able to reform the potent loose forward combination with Richie McCaw and Jerome Kaino, which led to the team beating France 8-7 in the final.
Since then Read has become arguably the second person named on the team sheet behind captain McCaw when coach Steve Hansen selects his side.
He will undoubtedly become the first when McCaw retires, probably after the Rugby World Cup opening this month.
Read led the side for the first time in 2012, but was confirmed as McCaw’s successor in the following year when he captained the side six more times, because the openside flanker was either on sabbatical or injured.
A talented athlete in school, Read was also an age group representative cricketer, and while he progressed quickly into Super Rugby, his All Blacks debut was delayed until the end of season tour to Europe in 2008.
He initially played as a blindside flanker, but, with Rodney So’oialo unable to shake off lingering injuries, he took over as No. 8 in 2010 and has not been challenged for the role since.
At 1.94m tall, Read is a handy line-out option and superb at putting pressure on defenders while chasing kicks.
He also plays with the physicality required of a No. 8 in defense and attack, although the skills that set him apart are his speed, fitness and ability to get wide to support his backs and help create mismatches.
The biggest concern for Read during the World Cup, apart from serious injury, will be concussion, which has afflicted him in the past two years.
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