Read's comeback from concussion took another step yesterday at the All Blacks training camp in Christchurch, but Richie McCaw admitted to sharing his mate's anxiety about the lingering effects of the injury.
While Read has yet to undertake any contact work after missing four weeks for the Crusaders, he ran with freedom and confidence.
Whether the No8 judged as the best player in the world last year makes an appearance for the Crusaders against the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday remains to be seen and he will continue to be monitored by both his franchise's medical staff and also the All Blacks'.
With Read out on his own as New Zealand's best No8, there was a concern last year as to where his back-up would come from. Victor Vito had been tried and discarded, although he is back on the scene again this year, with Read's Crusaders' teammate Luke Whitelock probably leading the race.
Kaino's return from two years in Japan, however, has provided another dimension.
His form for the Blues has been increasingly impressive and he is likely to be the man the All Blacks' coaches turn to if Read is unavailable in the near future.
‘‘It's great to see him back and he's playing pretty damn well too for the Blues from what I've seen," McCaw said. ‘‘When you've got to watch for a couple of years, just talking to him, he's pretty excited about having a chance back here again."
McCaw, Read and Kaino had a long chat at the end of training at the Linwood Rugby Club yesterday morning, the class of 2011 back together again, and Read's concussion may well have been a topic of conversation.
‘‘He's a lot better, there's no doubt," McCaw said. ‘‘There's a bit of anxiety when you've had a knock like that and had a few symptoms. I think the best thing has been is that he's taken it pretty slowly.
''He's probably almost right this week, but whether he plays or not I guess is a decision to be made. When he gets on the field he'll feel like he's right. I've been through that before and when you feel right all those anxieties drop away and it looks like he's got to that point."
The All Blacks will this morning (Wed) return to their respective franchises in order to prepare for this weekend's fixtures secure in the knowledge the Christchurch camp has been a success. Another will be held in Wellington starting on Sunday as the management group lay the foundations for the first test against England at Eden Park on June 7.
‘‘We're satisfied," assistant coach Ian Foster said of camp one. ‘‘We appreciate being able to meet these guys, it's vital that we do with the short build-up we have. We don't get a lot of content in it, we try to minimise what we do, but what we do is very important for us to get a start for that first test.
‘‘Sometimes a new environment provides a bit of a mental stimulus at this time of the year anyway."
McCaw, who is three games into a return from a broken thumb, said another two matches for the Crusaders would be ample for him to be up to speed for what would be a true test series.
‘‘Three tests across the same opposition, we've found over the last couple of years that one week to the next, that's a huge challenge in itself," he said. ‘‘You look at the last couple of times we've played England over there, they've been huge matches physically."
- By Patrick McKendry of APNZ
