All Blacks: The most scrutiny Kieran Read has faced

All Blacks captain Kieran Read is under intense pressure ahead of the third test against the Lions. Photo / photosport.co.nz

No Ben Smith, Dane Coles, Ryan Crotty. From a leadership perspective, the Kieran Read-led All Blacks face their biggest examination on Saturday.

On a personal level alone, Read will be well up for this, just as he was in the opening Lions test after two months out with injury.

This week he will become the seventh All Blacks' centurion. As if they needed any added motivation after the Lions squared the series in Wellington, and delivered Read's second loss in 24 tests as captain.

Read's milestone offers a pointer to what rests on his shoulders at Eden Park. He joins Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Ma'a Nonu, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock and Mils Muliaina in the hundred club. All of whom, along with Conrad Smith, are long gone.

In Read's captaincy era, there has been no more scrutiny and expectation than this week.
The 2015 World Cup final is the last comparable occasion. This time, the All Blacks' continued quest to create history arrives with a much more youthful, inexperienced group.

They don't have Ben Smith's ever-calming presence at the back. Crotty's cool head is likely to be absent from the midfield, as is Sonny Bill Williams who, despite his blowout last week, has featured in many cross-code matches of major significance. Dane Coles, the Hurricanes captain, also remains sidelined.

All of which places added importance on others to share the load. The departure of such legends of the game post 2015 - over 800 caps - forced the All Blacks to promote and develop a new leadership crew. Men such as Sam Whitelock, Beauden Barrett, Sam Cane, Aaron Smith and Brodie Retalliack stepped into the breach to join Read and Jerome Kaino. Now, together, they face a defining test.

"If we look at the backline without Sonny there are some young boys who experienced their first loss or are even in their first campaign so to grow the belief within the group and keep us strong and heading in the right direction I think it's going to be a huge week for the leadership group," Retalliack said.

The All Blacks pride themselves on their inclusive leadership style; on growing from experiences. In one example Aaron Smith spoke on Monday of absorbing lessons from the All Blacks' poor attacking display in Wellington. Expect the forward pack to be much more assertive at the breakdown, too.

As the week progresses, the All Blacks coaches gradually hand the running and responsibility of the team over to the leadership group. Management lead reviews at the start of the week; leaders narrow the focus and help cultivate the required edge among the rest of the squad.

Managing extreme outside pressures, and blocking out other distractions such as the America's Cup parade which passes the All Blacks hotel in central Auckland on Thursday, are other factors.

"Right now there is probably a little bit more pressure within the group," Retallick said. "It's do-or-die. Last week we went in and it was 1-0. It would be good to go to Saturday now and not have to worry about the rest of the week but we'll build well."

Nothing ever goes exactly to plan. Working out how to adjust to French referee Romain Poite and specific areas the Lions exert force will also fall on the more experienced members of this All Blacks team. Come game time, there is only so much Steve Hansen and co can do from the stands.

"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to play the Lions and then try and win the series. In that aspect it's massive.

"I wouldn't say it's a lot different but what's on the line is every 12 years so there's a lot riding on it. The physicality and the intensity of the first two matches have been huge, especially from them on Saturday they were a lot more physical and confrontational than they were in week one. We need to sort that out and make sure we're going back at it because we can't let it happen again."