By Hamish McKay
The All Blacks have assembled in Auckland ahead of next weekend’s rugby championship opener against the Wallabies in Sydney.
But before the hard work begins a couple from the injured list, including star number eight Kieran Read, put their fitness to the test - sort of.
It was fun and games with sponsors today, but season 2012 hasn't provided a trolley full of goodies for Read. His ribs were among his injured body parts.
“They’re feeling really good , I haven’t pushed them yet and not a lot of contact, so I’ll just have to see how they pull up next week but feeling really good at the moment.”
Showing no signs of his shoulder injury, lock Luke Romano dealt to a load of fence posts in a fashion that would have impressed the great Colin Meads.
He might be a young pine tree in the making, but Romano still has to remind himself he's an All Black.
“Halfway through the year I had no indication that I was going to be called in, and before it all happened it was more of a shock than a surprise.”
While Romano might need to work on his passing, he and the likes of Sam Cane have brought an infectious enthusiasm.
“It’s exactly what it is and you kind of look at them and go, you just want to match that I guess, and continue to enjoy what you do - and that’s why you're there, because you love putting on the jersey,” Read says.
When it comes to the modern first five-eight, Dan Carter wrote the manual and he's thriving on the chiefly challenge of Aaron Cruden.
“Obviously I’ve got over the disappointment of the Crusaders season, and ever since then all I’ve been doing is looking forward, the body feels good, I’m refreshed.”
The All Blacks are now in camp with a Bledisloe test in Sydney just nine days away.
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