Kieran Read
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen says that he expects the Crusaders to ease captain Kieran Read back into Super Rugby.
Read made his return to playing, after battling to recover from concussion, on Saturday for the All Blacks against England.
The IRB player of the year managed to play for 40-minutes and was then replaced by Liam Messam at halftime.
Hansen has now predicted that the No 8 will gradually increase his game time with the Crusaders in the coming weeks.
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“He seems to be okay at this stage but with concussions you’ve got to give it time,” Hansen said.
“It’s not for me to say how much game-time he will get. As long as he’s okay they will play him.”
“Obviously he hasn’t played a lot and we played him only 40 (minutes) because that’s what we felt he was ready to play.”
“They might look at it and say he can play 60 and from there all going well he should be ready to play 80-minutes.”
Hansen has also suggested that All Blacks and Crusaders fullback Israel Dagg would miss the match against the Hurricanes in Wellington while he recovers from knee and thigh injuries.
“It’ll be up to them (Crusaders) how they reintroduce him but I wouldn’t think he’ll play this week.”
“That will be up to their medical staff.”