All Blacks: Read on track for return

Kieran Read could be back in black earlier than expected. Photo / Getty Images

Injured All Blacks No8 Kieran Read has delivered a boost to the selectors with the news his sprained ankle is progressing better than expected.

Read still has the All Blacks final Rugby World Cup pool game against Canada in Wellington on October 2 as his target for a return and said his rehabilition since his injury against Australia in Brisbane on August 27 is going well.

"It's coming along better than I'd hoped," he said today. "I'm out of the moonboot so I can walk around a little bit. All signs are that I'm back on track to play in the game against Canada, the last pool game.

"Hopefully I'll be running again next week. I've been in the pool and doing a lot of rehab with it. I'm feeling good, but I've just go to take everything step by step."

The news on fellow injured loose forward Adam Thomson is also good, the Highlanders player training with the All Blacks in Hamilton today (Monday) following the hyperextension to his elbow and bruising to his arm also suffered in the Brisbane match.

Read, who has 32 caps, is among the best in the world in his position and his experience is highly prized by the All Blacks selectors. Although Victor Vito has impressed at No8 in Read's absence, the Crusaders player will be slotted back in at the earliest opportunity.

"Of course you don't want to allow anyone to take your opportunities. But everyone who has roles to fill must do the best they can for the team. I'm trying to help them out as much as I can.

"My aerobic fitness should be okay, but my match fitness might be lacking," Read said of a possible return against Canada. "I'll be giving it my all though."