Gray Matters: All Blacks desperate for thumbs up

Injured All Blacks captain Kieran Read’s thumb injury remains a concern for Steve Hansen. Photo / Greg Bowker

The All Blacks suit up at Eden Park tonight against Samoa with questions about injured captain Kieran Read competing for most interest leading into the Lions series.

While the visitors wrestle with unconvincing production from their captain Sam Warburton, at least he has made two tour appearances after knee trouble blighted his tour preparation.

Read has been on ice for two months after surgery to repair his broken thumb.

With every week his healing improves while his rugby finesse gets rougher.

The All Black selectors are in more of a squeeze because understudy No8 Liam Squire is suffering a similar injury so the choices are to use Ardie Savea again, switch duties for Jerome Kaino who returns from a long knee layoff tonight or go with their gut instincts that Read will do the business.

Whatever selectors Steve Hansen, Ian Foster, Grant Fox and the medics decide you have to back their judgment which has helped fashion five high-quality seasons around the globe.

If they don't start Read against the Lions in the first test is he going to be any better prepared to begin the second test in Wellington?

The selectors know Read's value and how he adds a layer of powerful experience to the team and especially the crucial axis with Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett to guide the structure and playing tempo.

Read is in the top bracket of No8s who have worn the All Black jersey, a supremely fit footballer with skills to push the envy buttons of many midfield backs.

His aerobic capacity will be near peak but his timing will be rusty as Roger Federer found out this week in Stuttgart in his return to tennis after a long layoff.

Read used the 2011 World Cup to highlight his ability to return to test rugby after being sidelined with injury for the opening three matches.

That was six years ago when he was in peak racing trim with the advantage of being able to practice at full noise before he made it back against Canada who did not have the same pedigree or pose the threats the Lions will.

This thumb injury will have compromised Read's time in live drills with the lineouts, scrums, rucks and mauls and restricted his ability to work in the defensive training sessions and in the weights room.

He'll have been in the vanguard of discussions, video work and will be up to date on the computer analysis but a bystander for most of the time as the All Black squad matches theory to practice.

Where Read and others with little match-play such as Kaino, Israel Dagg, Sonny Bill Williams or recent damage like Ryan Crotty, have an advantage is they are all familiar with the style used by the All Blacks and will not take long to chisel into some new details.

That allows the selectors to make a calculated choice that Read will prove his quality as long as his All Black teammates deliver on their reputations.

It's a gamble with an even tastier verdict waiting when referee Jaco Peyper blows the final whistle.