Read fit to face Canada

Published: Thursday, 29. September, 2011 in category Northern Hemishere
Read: Rolled his ankle on Wednesday

The back-row was named in the All Blacks squad for the tournament despite having injured his ankle in the Tri-Nations defeat to Australia.

And the gamble appeared to have backfired for the favourites after he rolled his ankle in training on Wednesday.

However All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen insists Read will be fit to face the Canucks in Wellington on Sunday.

"He's as good as we can have him. He'll be playing on Sunday," Hansen said.

"I don't think he's ready to play 80 minutes. He's been out for five weeks, so he probably won't play the whole game.

"What tends to happen with the injury that he's had is you can roll it pretty easy.

"He did that yesterday, got a fright, we all got a fright, but within half an hour it was fine. So he'll be training fully tomorrow and playing on Sunday."

While Read is set to return, fellow back row Adam Thomson, utility back Richard Kahui and winger Cory Jane all set to miss out the final pool game.

"Richard (is likely out) and Adam is probably a question mark whether we take the risk and play him. We'll see what he's like over the next 48 hours," said Hansen.

"It's unlikely that we'll play Cory because of that head knock, if I was being perfectly honest and frank with you."