The new All Blacks Captain is......
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<p>Reado.....</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/77057894/coach-steve-hansen-confirms-kieran-read-will-be-all-blacks-captain'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/77057894/coach-steve-hansen-confirms-kieran-read-will-be-all-blacks-captain</a></p>
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<p>Coach Steve Hansen confirms Kieran Read will be All Blacks captain</p>
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<p>Kieran Read will captain the All Blacks in 2016.</p>
<p>All Blacks coach Steve Hansen confirmed the big No 8 would be handed the role in the wake of Richie McCaw's retirement.</p>
<p>McCaw stepped down after leading the All Blacks to back-to-back World Cups last year.</p>
<div>The 30-year-old Read, who has already captained the All Blacks in nine tests in McCaw's absence, has played 84 tests for New Zealand, being involved in both of the recent World Cup triumphs. Hansen confirmed Read was his man as he looks to cover the massive loss of experience in his squad following the retirement of several veterans.</div>
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<div>Reado's had experience already as captain nine times and whilst it will be a new experience to be there fulltime, at least he's had a taste of it," Hansen told Radio Sport on Friday.
<p>"We have known for quite some time that five of the guys are going to be leaving, with a 1000 test matches between them. We've known for a while and we've planned for that."</p>
<p>Read has been named to captain the Crusaders in this year's Super Rugby championship. He'll need to come through that unscathed to take the big All Blacks job."</p>
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<p>Hansen confirmed that Chiefs flanker Sam Cane was the leading contender to take over McCaw's No 7 jersey.</p>
<p>Cane has been groomed for the job since breaking into the All Blacks in 2012 and was even honoured with captaining the team against Namibia at last year's World Cup.</p>
<p>He deputised several times during the later stages of McCaw's career and has quickly accumulated 31 test caps, 18 of them coming off the bench.</p>
<p>"Sam Cane's had a taste of test footy and he's raring to go," Hansen said.</p>
<p>"So if we're going in with all of those things brand new then it would be a lot different but I've got a lot of confidence in the people that are going to step up."</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="559417" data-time="1455834825">
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<p>"We have known for quite some time that <strong>five of the guys are going to be leaving, with a 1000 test matches between them.</strong> We've known for a while and we've planned for that."</p>
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<p>5 guys and 1000 caps...</p> -
Congrats. Obviously it was expected but jeez he would want to up his game from last season. Rodders and Collins completely fell apart at a similar point in their career following a RWC. I'd be curious if this has been done with an appointment with the Lions tour in mind and no further than that.
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<p>Is it just me who finds this whole announcement a but weird? It's February, the first games of the season are still a week away, the first AB team isn't due for 3 months. Why announce a captain and the first choice 7 now? Especially given everyone knew it was going to happen anyway?</p>
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<p>It's not like people have been hanging out for this "news" (ok maybe sparky) so why not wait until the squad announcement later in the year? This seems to me like making noise for the sake of hearing yourself. </p> -
<p>wasn't it comments made during interviews with him as COTY which is understandable as opposed to an official announcement?</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="canefan" data-cid="559434" data-time="1455837400">
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<p>It will be interesting to see if Read can up his game back to pre-head injury levels. A lot of experience gone which might see a bit more inconsistency of performances but this is a good chance for others to step in. Cane has sizeable shoes to fill</p>
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<p>Well he has a whole super season to take it easy and recover now that he is guaranteed the captaincy and I assume highest salary. :)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="canefan" data-cid="559434" data-time="1455837400">
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<p>It will be interesting to see if Read can up his game back to pre-head injury levels. A lot of experience gone which might see a bit more inconsistency of performances but this is a good chance for others to step in. Cane has sizeable shoes to fill</p>
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<p>and we can't expect him to fill the greatest ever players shoes. Fortunately for us Cane could likely be the best openeside in the world though. I will take that any day of the week.</p>
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<p>Obviously no one is surprised about captaincy but compared to his 2011-13 vintage, Read is about 65% that.</p> -
<p>Someone posted a great video of Hansen talking about leadership quite a while back where he said Read will be captain in 2016. Sooo this is kinda old news... :)</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="nzzp" data-cid="559437" data-time="1455838384">
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<p>When was the team announced? </p>
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<p>Looks like I missed it again. :|</p>
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<p>Fair go NZZP - Sir Richie made his surprise announcement less than three months ago and poor Steve Hansen has just spent a sleepless Christmas reeling with shock <strong>and</strong> wondering and worrying about what to do - who to choose at 7? Do I have anyone worth a try as captain?</p>
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<p>He'll have Wayne Smith in the outer office there making phone calls as we speak, ringing blokes up to check if they intend going again this year (and asking a couple of 'em why they haven't yet returned their jersey after the last game in November). I think he has 'til the Thursday before - June 9 - to have the team list ready for the media afternoon print run. :think:</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="559446" data-time="1455839512">
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<p>and we can't expect him to fill the greatest ever players shoes. Fortunately for us Cane could likely be the best openeside in the world though. I will take that any day of the week.</p>
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<p>Obviously no one is surprised about captaincy but compared to his 2011-13 vintage, Read is about 65% that.</p>
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<p>Shag has done a great job blooding lots of players to try and lessen the sting of losing a bunch of great veterans</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="559431" data-time="1455837008"><p>
Is it just me who finds this whole announcement a but weird? It's February, the first games of the season are still a week away, the first AB team isn't due for 3 months. Why announce a captain and the first choice 7 now? Especially given everyone knew it was going to happen anyway?<br><br>
It's not like people have been hanging out for this "news" (ok maybe sparky) so why not wait until the squad announcement later in the year? This seems to me like making noise for the sake of hearing yourself.</p></blockquote>
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Totally agree. What happens if Read gets injured during the Super 125? I really hope I'm wrong, but I think Read may be in serious decline. Who is next in line behind him? Are either of the locks captain material? -
<p>Well done Kieran. Shocked but really excited by this appointment.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rancid Schnitzel" data-cid="559571" data-time="1455863689">
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<p>Totally agree. What happens if Read gets injured during the Super 125? I really hope I'm wrong, but I think Read may be in serious decline. <strong>Who is next in line behind him</strong>? Are either of the locks captain material?</p>
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<p>Would it be Cane?</p>
