Kieran Read blushes when asked what he made of Zinzan Brooke's recent description of him as a "miracle man".
The IRB world player of the year may be a snarling, brutish figure on the pitch - feared and revered by opponents - but off it he is humble, self-deprecating and softly spoken.
Shy, even.
"It's high praise to hear something like that from someone like Zinzan Brooke," said Read yesterday when asked about the former All Black No 8's comments.
"He was someone I grew up watching and I know how much he achieved in the game. There are parts of my game I feel I've improved and can add value to the team. But working miracles? No."
Despite his humility, there is no escaping Read's status as one of the greats of the world game. Capped 70 times already and a key figure in New Zealand's 2011 World Cup-winning side, the 29-year-old will take on England at Twickenham on Sunday in his prime.
Worryingly, the No 8 with the pace and footballing skills of a top-class centre, is pursuing a path of constant improvement.
Barcelona's midfielder Lionel Messi, along with his All Black captain Richie McCaw, are the inspiration for Read.
"When I look at a great player it is the consistency that sets them apart," he said.
"The greats are the ones who do it every week. If you look across sports, someone like Messi scores goals every week, no matter who he's playing against.
"You have to have that mentality and, once you've got that, it's about nailing your preparation and respecting every week you play.
"That's what I try to do. I grew up playing alongside Richie for Canterbury and the All Blacks so it wasn't too hard for me to switch into that mindset when you train alongside him every week.
"I probably always had that inside myself but once you start working alongside someone like Richie, you see the level he lives up to every week. I just want to keep improving."
Read knows he will be tested by England's Billy Vunipola but, after missing the first two Tests against Stuart Lancaster's men following concussion last summer, he is grateful just to be playing.
He admits his wife Bridget still has concerns about the possibility of her husband sustaining the sort of head knocks that have blighted McCaw's career and ended that of former All Black full back Leon McDonald.
"It was a scary time with all the nausea and dizziness," said Read.
"I know England's Geoff Parling is going through it at the moment. You have a heightened risk after you've had one concussion.
"Even though I wasn't showing any symptoms, the brain wasn't quite right. You just get unlucky sometimes. It puts things in perspective when you have to take time off. It makes you realise why you love playing this game and why I love being part of this team.
"My wife is worried, I guess. But she let me come back and she knew I was being looked after by the medics. There was no way I was going to put myself at risk. I've got a great family with two little girls. I was never going to be risking my health. I needed to make sure I was right."
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Read, part of the team that lost at Twickenham two years ago, returned for the third Test in Hamilton as Steve Hansen's men completed a 3-0 series whitewash.
But did Lancaster's men do enough to convince an eternally cynical New Zealand rugby public that England are finally trying to embrace a more expansive game?
"The public probably see the English as the English of old in terms of that arrogant tag and just playing a kicking game and whatever," said Read, with a smile.
"But on the evidence of what we've seen in the last couple of years they are not really like that. They're a capable side. They came with a game plan to take it to us in June. They had chances, in the first Test especially. We respected them, certainly, from the way they had been playing. We probably didn't play our best but we got the job done, which is important in Test matches. That's a confidence we can take into the game on Saturday."
Confidence is the last thing Lancaster wants coursing through Read's veins. A humble Read is quite dangerous enough. A miracle man, no less.
- The Daily Mail
OPINION: There are three key reasons to believe that they can.