EDITOR’S TOP 10 RISKY BUSINESS
10 READ IT AND WEEP
In the 2008 Super Rugby competition the Crusaders were superb and a young man called Kieran Read was helping them reach incredible heights with his performances on the blindside.
The 22-year-old, who had also shone in provincial rugby the year before, went up another level in 2008 and was an abrasive, athletic, skilled, high energy performer in the No 6 shirt.
Most, nearly all, amateur pundits had Read in their All Blacks squad for the June tests. But the men who mattered didn’t.
When the squad was named, Read was the big omission and no one really got why. Coach Graham Henry said: “It is Kieran’s first big Super Rugby season and that takes its toll.
“He needs to rest and regroup and that will set his sights on the end of year tour. What we are saying is that we think the best for Kieran is to give his body a bit of a break so he can refresh his mind, his body and his soul. We see him as a long term All Blacks so he just needs some space right now.”
It was a bit weird as Read looked fresh, energised and ready to storm test football in June and no one really agreed that
