All Blacks’ Kieran Read eyeing Canadian encounter as his comeback game – Rugby News
New Zealand professional Rugby Union player and All Blacks international hooker, Kieran Read, is expected to gain match fitness before the All Blacks 2011 Rugby World Cup’s last pool match against Canada.
All Blacks will take on Canada on Sunday, October 2. Read has termed his rehabilitation as right on course and expressed his confidence to become fully fit for the All Blacks’ last pool match. He provided the updates to his injury on Monday, September 12.
Read was sidelined from the game following an injury to his ankle, which he sustained during the 2011 Tri Nations tournament earlier in August. Providing the updates on the recovery from his injury, Read confirmed that the doctors have taken off the protective tapes from his ankle.
Read said, “The ankle is coming on as well as I've hoped. I'm out of the (protective) moon boot.” He added that he has started walking but is not putting too much weight on his ankle. He denounced any early return plans and confirmed that he is willing to give himself 2 to 3 weeks before running on the field.
Read further added, “I've been into the pool and doing a lot of rehab with it (the injury), but it's just a matter of wait and see and I think we've just got to take it step by step at this stage.”
All Blacks utility forward, which can play at flanker, number eight and second row forward positions, has expressed his frustration on missing the action. He added that besides not being a part of the All Blacks squad, the chance it gives others to play and excel at his position is very frustrating and disappointing.
Read added that in order to compete with these players he is working hard to maintain and achieve his fullest fitness level. He added although he is slightly worried about his game fitness level, he is optimistic that he’ll make most of the opportunity to play a full length of the game and perform.
The 25-year-old Read started his professional rugby union career with New Zealand’s provincial rugby union side Canterbury in 2006. He so far has made 37 appearances for the Canterbury in the New Zealand’s domestic competition, Air New Zealand Cup.
Papakura based Read made his Super Rugby debut for the New Zealand Super Rugby Franchise, Crusaders in 2007. He so far played 71 games for Crusaders and has scored 50 points. He made his international debut for the All Blacks in 2008. He so far has earned 32 national caps and has scored 30 points.
His return to full fitness level will further strengthen the All Blacks squad in the later games of the tournament.
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