England should start preparing for some more Kieran Read offload party tricks.
The All Blacks No.8 has made an art form of conjuring passes out of tackles for others to score and hopes there is more to come in Saturday’s Test at Twickenham.
The 2013 world player of the year underlined his ability with one flick of the wrist in their crushing of the United States in Chicago.
He drew three defenders before a reverse backhand flick gave Julian Savea a simple stroll across the tryline.
It wasn’t the first time Read and Savea have combined in Tests but the big wing isn’t the only player to reap the rewards of the dexterous forward.
Richie McCaw scored after a leaping Read somehow stood firm in a tackle and offloaded to create their only try in the 14-10 win over South Africa in Wellington this year.
“We do practise it a lot, it works well,” Read said.
“You’ve got to keep working on it because it doesn’t just happen. It’s always nice to see them trot over when you’ve given the last pass.”
Read says he will sniff for more offload opportunities when the All Blacks are on attack in Saturday’s Test at Twickenham.
However, he says don’t expect it to be as spectacular as the Chicago effort, revealing he’d copied that move from American Football.
“I was watching the NFL, a lateral play that they use,” he said.
“It’s one of those ones that just comes off. You know that he’s going to be there, I guess.”
offloads aren’t Read’s only forte this season.
Coach Steve Hansen opined last week that the 29-year-old has become world rugby’s premier lineout forward.
His speedy leap and extension have won Read 38 lineouts off their own ball in the last eight New Zealand Tests.
The next best is lock Sam Whitelock on 12.
JMB
Guest
Spot on. Fekitoa still makes a lot of critical blunders and gets pinged for holding the pill a lot. Nonu v SBW battle will be intriguing.
Leister Rutledge
Guest
Magic you will need your sponge to wipe the egg off your face on Monday morning.
Magic Sponge
Guest
The abs will get wiped. The pack is light weight and sbw is only good with pack going forward . The poms will keep it tight an Reads seagulling will be pointless.
Kia Kaha
Roar Guru
Fekitoa is a school project that doesn't have to be handed in until after the RWC. sBW's experience already in that tournament counts in his favour and Fekitoa's starts are injury insurance. Hansen has a hard job juggling gelling combinations and including a wide group of players. since 2011 it's hard to fault his selection calls. As for Read his offloading ability and his pace make for a lethal attacking combination but for me Read's real value is his aerial work at restarts and his lineouts. He takes more ball than Whitelock and is invariably clean and fast. When he doesn't play our lineout looks far less impressive and we lose a vital attacking platform.
Batdown
Roar Rookie
The team is: Starting XV: 1. Wyatt Crockett (33) 2. Dane Coles (24) 3. Owen Franks (65) 4. Brodie Retallick (34) 5. Samuel Whitelock (60) 6. Jerome Kaino (54) 7. Richie McCaw - captain (134) 8. Kieran Read (70) 9. Aaron Smith (36) 10. Aaron Cruden (36) 11. Julian Savea (30) 12. Sonny Bill Williams (20) 13. Conrad Smith (83) 14. Ben Smith (35) 15. Israel Dagg (45) Reserves: 16. Keven Mealamu (121) 17. Ben Franks (39) 18. Charlie Faumuina (24) 19. Patrick Tuipulotu (5) 20. Liam Messam (37) 21. TJ Perenara (8) 22. Beauden Barrett (26) 23. Ryan Crotty (10)
Batdown
Roar Rookie
What a call by Hansen ay Kuruki Sonny Bill will be pumped! Having Crotty on the bench makes perfect sense to my mind but I feel for Fekitoa who has had an impressive season thus far.
ChanWEE
Guest
Nah most likely after Read it will be Whitelock, dont forget he is still 25 !!! or else Cruden who was a skipper at under 20 in 2010 if i recall correct. there are other U20 skippers around who may come into reckoning. Luke whitelock 2011 Ardie Savea 2013 Simon HIckey 2014
Kuruki
Roar Guru
SBW gets the nod ahead of Fekitoa. I think it's the best move for the long run SBW needs as many games as he can because he will be there at the WC.
Kane
Roar Guru
Coles is only a year younger than Read so I doubt it will be him.
Kane
Roar Guru
Only 10months between those two and Ardie has gone off the boil a bit since last year. Canes putting in fine performances at test level.
Zero Gain
Guest
Three days before the game....
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Well Carlos, I suppose it is better than going out to have fast food in the early hours!
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Yep I would agree with Kane in that Read is already there (has captaincy experience with both Crusaders and AB's) then a few years down the track perhaps Cane or Coles who could come into contention.
winston
Roar Rookie
If a savea flourishes it won't.
Kane
Guest
Will be Read then Cane.
Kane
Guest
Will be Read then Cane.
Dan Fan
Guest
After Read, that is.
Dan Fan
Guest
You are all wrong. It will be either Sam Cane or Aaron Cruden (although many will probably find that odd). They are both in the leadership group.
Carlos the Argie in the USA
Guest
At the press conference after the USA game, an american journalist asked Read if his pass for the Savea try was copied from the basketball game the ABs went to the night before. With a sly grin he answered that he was "nicely tucked in bed" the night before. He did not go to the game. The ABs that weren't going to play went to the game. Got a chuckle out of everyone.
MJB
Guest
Sorry that was a reply to the wrong person *headdesk*