All Blacks boss Steve Hansen has dismissed concerns over the fitness of skipper Keiran Read ahead of Saturday’s clash with England.
Ahead of the World Cup semi-final this weekend in Yokohama, there has been speculation Read has been struggling with a tight calf, with the back-rower seen cycling in the gym as opposed to training in the rain with the rest of the squad on Tuesday.
However, Hansen is adamant there is nothing significantly wrong with his captain and says Read will be ready for the weekend’s showdown with Eddie Jones’ side. “There’s no issue,” said Hansen. “We just weren’t prepared to put him on a wet track today.”
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The war of words has already begun between Hansen and Australian counterpart Jones, with the All Blacks chief hinting his side could have a few unexpected tricks up their sleeve. “It’s our job to do something different,” he said.
“You practise it, implement it. If it works you’re a superstar and if it doesn’t you’re an idiot. “England would say they can tuck the ball up their jersey and do that game, and they’ll say that they can run it.
We can match it with our forward pack. “I don’t think the forward pack gets as much credit as it should because it’s overridden by the other things we do. We want to run with the ball and we’ve got a good kicking game, too.”
