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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<p>That's one out of left field isn't it, didn't see that coming at all.</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> -
Not Fekitoa then...<br><br>
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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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<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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<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> -
<p>When was the team announced? </p>
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<p>Looks like I missed it again. :|</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> -
<p>Read is 9-0 as AB captain but I know a few Cantabs that haven't been overly impressed with his captaincy at the Crusaders. He'll need to develop a better rapport with the refs.</p>
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<p>Yeah the waving your hands in the air and screaming at the ref isn't the best look.</p>
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<p>Especially when you miss one or two tackles as a result.</p> -
<p>Reckon Read may not be the first choice #8 in 2019 regardless. Lots of good young talent coming through.</p>
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<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> -
<p>Im not going to predict Read may not be able to hold his spot in the team down the track , but there were a few worrying signs this year that make me concerned </p>
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<p>But agree with the decision overall , but then dont really understand why it was announced in February either </p> -
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<p>Im not going to predict Read may not be able to hold his spot in the team down the track , <strong>but there were a few worrying signs this year that make me concerned </strong></p>
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<p>But agree with the decision overall , but then dont really understand why it was announced in February either </p>
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<p>#dontreadanythingintopreseason</p> -
<p>pretty sure it wasnt an official announcement, was just a question during interviews following the Halbergs...plus, I dont expect he thought it was really a big secret or surprise so not worth delaying or sidestepping the question</p>
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<p>haha, can you imagine the shit storm if he had said he hadnt decided who was gonna be captain yet!!</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="559597" data-time="1455868447">
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<p>#dontreadanythingintopreseason</p>
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<p>i said this season thinking the season just completed,</p>
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<p> but i actually meant last season </p> -
Was that the season where he busted his ankle in some important game and still played on and made some critical tackles on loose forwards who aren't half bad...... just saying :)<br><br>
There's always reservations about a new captain. For varying reasons people had them when Thorne, Umaga and Richie were anointed with the big wig. Read will have to adjust his style and continue to work on his game. <br><br>
Hopefully it works out. -
<p>Read will be (and has been) fine.</p>
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<p>Fricken February Hennie Pennies again (sigh)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="559582" data-time="1455866021">
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<p>Would it be Cane?</p>
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<p>Coles & Cane for me. I'd expect one of them to step in long term</p> -
Will he be the Moyes to Richie's Fergie.
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<p>Not a surprise at all as many have said, Hansen had announced as much before in the talk on leadership to coaches. Reado has had considerable responsibility in the squad for a while now.</p>
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<p>My guess is that the selectors will have regular phone calls and meetings with the captain throughout the Super season so it is worth naming Kieran Read as de facto captain now, there will be obligations to the sponsor as well, even though it won't be official until the naming of the side to face Wales in the first test.</p>
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<p>It will be interesting to see who is in the leadership group. My picks would be Coles, Retallick, Whitelock, Cane, Cruden and Ben Smith.</p> -
I'd imagine Aaron Smith too...
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="559624" data-time="1455882821"><p>
It will be interesting to see who is in the leadership group. My picks would be Coles, Retallick, Whitelock, Cane, Cruden and Ben Smith.</p></blockquote>
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How many are in this leadership group? 7 guys in a leadership group when there is a squad of 28-30 seems like a lot. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="559629" data-time="1455886245"><p>How many are in this leadership group? 7 guys in a leadership group when there is a squad of 28-30 seems like a lot.</p></blockquote>
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The leadership group during the Ted-Hansen eras has been about that size. Some have on field responsibilities, some off field. <br><br><a class="bbc_url" href="http://www.allblacks.com/News/17924/henry-reveals-the-three-tenets-to-all-blacks-success">http://www.allblacks.com/News/17924/henry-reveals-the-three-tenets-to-all-blacks-success</a> -
By all accounts Cane has been part of the leadership groups for a couple of seasons so he has been groomed to stay a long term AB
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Mister G" data-cid="559623" data-time="1455882707"><p>
Will he be the Moyes to Richie's Fergie.</p></blockquote>
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You can but hope -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Mister G" data-cid="559623" data-time="1455882707"><p>Will he be the Moyes to Richie's Fergie.</p></blockquote>More like Taine Randell to Fitzpatrick. The difference being that Hansen has prepared for the void in experience at both captain and the team as a whole by having ready replacements with AB experience
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="559614" data-time="1455873515">
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<p>Read will be (and has been) fine.</p>
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<p>Fricken February Hennie Pennies again (sigh)</p>
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The guy has serious head issues though. I think this could be a very short term appointment as if he has another decent head knock he's unlikely to be around (from a playing rugby perspective) that much longer. He may be lucky to make it through this year but fingers crossed!</p> -
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<p>The guy has serious head issues though. I think this could be a very short term appointment as if he has another decent head knock he's unlikely to be around (from a playing rugby perspective) that much longer. He may be lucky to make it through this year but fingers crossed!</p>
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<p>although remember that time Richie had had a few head knocks and had to retire....</p> -
Nope?
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="560568" data-time="1456294821">
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<p>although remember that time Richie had had a few head knocks and had to retire....</p>
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<p>He doesn't.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="560568" data-time="1456294821"><p>although remember that time Richie had had a few head knocks and had to retire....</p></blockquote>
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I don't recall Richie's form dropping off like Read's did, leading many on here to suggest Read was looking gunshy.
