3 minute read
Veteran skipper Kieran Read won't let the occasion of his final Test on home soil derail a steely desire for the All Blacks to perform against Tonga.
Emotion will affect some departing All Blacks, but not captain Kieran Read when they face Tonga in their final pre-World Cup hitout in Hamilton.
Saturday's Test will be the last on home soil for long-serving No.8 Read, along with backs Ryan Crotty and Ben Smith.
All have signed overseas club contracts and can expect the sort of reception former captain Richie McCaw and a handful of other New Zealand greats received in their home swansong at Eden Park four years ago.
There were emotional scenes after McCaw's men beat Australia 41-13 before embarking on their triumphant World Cup campaign.
Read wasn't letting the occasion invade his thoughts on the eve of his 122nd Test, with willing opponents awaiting at FMG Stadium and their campaign for a fourth Webb Ellis Cup just around the corner.
"To be honest, I haven't really thought about it," he told journalists on Friday.
"When I'm finished I'll look back on it but right now it's a Test match to play and we've prepared this week as if we're playing any other team in the world."
It wasn't the same for fit-again Crotty, who will play his first Test in 10 months and could apply pressure to Sonny Bill Williams' status as the first-choice inside centre in Japan
Crotty's family will be in attendance and his voice wavered this week when discussing the end of his international career in New Zealand.
"You never make it about the individual, but it's pretty special for a lot of guys," he said.
"Playing for the All Blacks, you see what it means to a lot of other people, your success. I'm getting a bit emotional talking about it. It's a massive game for me and I'm really excited about it."
The match is at the same venue where Mate Ma'a Tonga famously upset the Kiwis at the Rugby League World Cup two years ago.
While a similarly passionate crowd support for the visitors is anticipated, few give the 15th-ranked Ikate Tahi much hope of toppling an All Blacks team keen to deliver a steely showing two weeks out from their World Cup opener against South Africa.
Coach Toutai Kefu said he spied a glimmer of hope when reviewing New Zealand's shock loss to Australia in Perth last month, along with some patchy showings against the Pumas and Springboks in the Rugby Championship.
"We analysed those teams and some of their style is very similar to the way we want to play. We've just got to get better," the former Wallabies No.8 said.
"It's a massive challenge but I still believe we're a chance of playing well and getting close."
Tonga's World Cup campaign opens against England in Sapporo on September 22.