All Blacks: Rested Read psychs up

Kieran Read takes part in All Blacks training ahead of tomorrow's test against Australia. Photo / Getty Images

Kieran Read could not resist checking on his teammates when he was siphoned off from the All Blacks for their last two tests.

He plonked himself down in a comfortable chair, turned the television on and the rugby analysis department inside his brain honed in on his teammates and the opposition.

Senior All Blacks Read, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks and Keven Mealamu were given time away from the training camps in the last few weeks as they recovered from their exhausting Super 15 schedules.

"The body is the best it has been all season, the mind is refreshed and I am pretty excited to get going this weekend," said Read, who resumes at No8 against the Wallabies.

"I think adrenalin carried us to the final and then it felt a bit jaded. I think the coaches were right in giving us a bit of time off because I think they have achieved what they wanted to - us coming back and having a real spark and wanting to be back playing."

Watching the All Blacks deal to Fiji and the Springboks had been fine but personally he felt a bit uneasy as his loose forward teammates did so well in his absence. That had raised the competition within the group and would be a boost for the coaches.

The 30-test rep could have played but accepted some of the edge had gone from his game and further time in camp would have dulled rather than improved his instincts.

Read does not like watching rugby on television but felt drawn to the screen for the Carisbrook and Cake Tin tests where his focus zeroed in on lineouts and patterns.

"For myself coming back now, you don't want to give too many more opportunities to guys so I have to make sure I nail my own game this week as well," he said.

There may have been some selection psychology from Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith in the sides they put out for Fiji and the Boks. There was now competition in all positions and that was a healthy situation for players and staff.

But there would not be so much job sharing in the loose forwards at Eden Park with captain Richie McCaw and Jerome Kaino.

Players would have their own ideas but thoughts of revenge, for defeat to the Wallabies in Hong Kong last year and the Reds in the Super 15 final, were not central threads in preparing for this test. The Crusaders probably had the rawest recall but this was the All Blacks, preparation was different.

The history of Super 15 had little bearing on what happened in tests. The All Blacks and Wallabies were quality teams readying for a huge contest.

"We believe we have a side who can do the business and we want to really put a marker in the sand this weekend," Read said.

Eden Park was a fortress for the All Blacks and they wanted that to continue.