Keen All Black Read 'can't wait'

Kieran Read. Photo / Dean Purcell

The grin was confirmation before Kieran Read sat down.

But the All Black No 8 still got the first question yesterday about his fitness as he, Jerome Kaino and assistant coach Wayne Smith attended a media briefing.

Read's left ankle was "great", he would train fully and was ready to play against Canada at the Cake Tin on Sunday.

"I can't wait," he said.

"It has been pretty tough watching and pretty exciting as well watching the boys go and definitely the amount of teams that are playing well at the World Cup, and I just want to get out there and add my bit."

His lungs would be tested but he had survived some torrid practice sessions.

When he heard the "crack and pop" in his ankle last month in Brisbane when the Wallabies nailed the All Blacks, Read wondered about his future in the World Cup.

Consistent rehab and treatment since then had helped him make a strong recovery.

"I was positive and I had got it into my head that I would probably be right," he said. "I'd seen Thommo [Adam Thomson] struggling a little bit and in a bit of pain and that probably gave me hope because I wasn't as bad as him - though I suppose I was a little bit - and had a chance to get into this World Cup."

Smith said injuries were a part of any World Cup, teams had to cope with those sorts of events and the versatility in the All Blacks would help.

They had suffered multiple injuries in Cardiff in 2007 as well and the trick was to have multiple cover and make sure those replacements had enough rugby.

Richard Kahui was the only player ruled out of this Sunday and that was a precautionary idea.

The rest all jogged at training yesterday and were "not too bad".

Israel Dagg had a bruised thigh and was the least damaged, Cory Jane was still being monitored after his head knock, and Adam Thomson was probably touch and go.

Read, fullback Mils Muliaina and wing Zac Guildford were the only players yet to get out on the park in the World Cup, said Smith.

They were all very keen and had been setting standards at training. That was natural.

But the selectors were mindful the All Blacks wanted to sustain and build momentum. They won well against France but they were patchy.

"We have got some areas we really need to improve in and we have to get those right this week," Smith said.

Team needs came ahead of individual aims. Some players would be fine to continue, others needed a rest and those were decisions the coaches would make after discussions with the medical and training staff.