All Blacks: Kieran Read plans for biggest game of his career

Kieran Read. Photo / Dean Purcell

New frontiers are a rare event for this All Black troupe.

They have claimed Grand Slams, Bledisloe Cups, Tri-Nations Cups but the cradle holding the Webb Ellis Cup has been vacant for 20 years.

None of the present squad has played in a Rugby World Cup final while Mils Muliaina, Daniel Carter, Richie McCaw, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn and Keven Mealamu earned a bronze medal in the 2003 playoff.

On Sunday they become the third All Black side to contest the trophy after the 1987 inaugural champions and the 1995 extra-time squad.

Many in the squad will be fortunate to make it to another tournament but No 8 Kieran Read should have at least one more event as he turns 26 next week. This reserved man with heavy horsepower and enormous drive heads a list of those in line for future leadership.

He does not do reckless, his comments are usually cautious but he gave a hint of the All Blacks' mindset about their finals chance against France.

"You want to play your best game. If you can do that and 22 other guys are playing their best game we are going to go pretty close to winning this thing so that is what I have to think of," he said.

Recovery was going well after the torrid semifinal win against the Wallabies. The All Blacks had sorted out their strategies and had been working through those on the training field to make them automatic for Sunday's 9pm kickoff at Eden Park.

There are unlikely to be selection changes to the All Blacks although looseforward Adam Thomson said his ankle problem was improving and he might yet figure in the reserves.

This was not just another week, said Read. This was the biggest match any of the squad had been involved in, a game of far greater consequence than winning Super rugby titles or test series.

"You've got to take it as a grand final and probably the biggest game of your career so you've got to enjoy it and get excited by the week because it is not going to come around too often in your career,"said Read.

The No 8 missed the first three pool games because of an ankle injury but is powering back into the sort of form which makes him, Richie McCaw and Jerome Kaino a thunderously effective looseforward combination.

The thrill and anticipation of playing in a World Cup decider would help tired and damaged bodies through the match, the excitement could then be channelled into productivity, said Read.

"So it is about making sure we get our bodies to the point where they are as good as they can be and it is a hell of a week so we are looking forward to it."

Ben Franks, the elder of the propping brothers, said the final would be a long day but one players had learned to absorb. The trick was getting all the preparation well sorted before match day.

"So it is about flicking the switch as you get to the ground," he said. "It is a long day, I like to keep calm, put the feet up catch up with family and stuff like that."

The forwards needed to get more credit was Franks' droll answer about the All Blacks' work.

They worked diligently to deliver quality possession from lineout and scrum. They had to aim up physically and that was the greatest challenge in all aspects of forward play.

"Every team wants that edge," Franks said. "We take time to gel [in the All Blacks] because we come from different teams."

That had started this season against Fiji and the combinations were improving. The semifinal win against the Wallabies was a strong step up and there was a good feeling the scrum had tightened at the right time.

"The difference between a good scrum and a bad scrum can be very small so we need to go up another notch for the weekend because the French pack definitely will."

Their looseforward trio, said Read, was outstanding on defence, in the lineout and with their dominant tackling but the All Black trio was excited about comparing their skill sheets.

"We just have to look after our own ball which is being really aggressive with our carries with the ball and having good cleanouts."