All Blacks captain Kieran Read has said he is likely to quit international rugby after next year’s World Cup in Japan and take a contract overseas.
Read, who turned 33 last week, will line up for his third World Cup next year after helping the All Blacks raise the Webb Ellis trophy in 2011 and 2015.
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“So for me I think it probably won’t be in New Zealand,” Read told New Zealand media of his post-Japan plans. “We have always thought as a family that we would like to go overseas and use that experience for the kids. That is probably the main option at the moment.
“[Retirement] is an option as well,” he added. “There are plenty of options out there but I probably want to keep playing if I can. It is the experience for the kids that will be the main thing and it has to work for us as a family.
“I hope to have (plans) wrapped up before the start of [next] season because then you can give 100% because you know what you will be doing.”
The All Blacks head to Twickenham next week to meet Eddie Jones’s England before wrapping up their season with away tests against Ireland and Italy. Read and most first-choice All Blacks were rested for the match against Japan on Saturday, with No 8 Luke Whitelock leading the side against the Brave Blossoms.
The All Blacks side – featuring eight debutants – crushed Japan 69-31, with centre Ngani Laumape running in a hat-trick for the world champions.
Flyhalf Richie Mo’unga scored one of the visitors’ 10 tries and kicked a penalty and seven conversions for 22 points in front a record crowd for a rugby match in Japan of 43,751.
Hooker Dane Coles nabbed New Zealand’s first try on his return to the side after almost a year out with injury while winger George Bridge scored twice, including one with his first touch as an All Black.
Japan, next year’s World Cup hosts, were lively in attack and scored five tries to contribute to the 100-point tally for the match but could not contain the All Blacks in defence, missing 25 tackles on the way to an overwhelming defeat.
A close-to-capacity crowd at the Ajinomoto Stadium were allowed to dream of an improbable victory when lock Samuela Anise charged down Jordie Barrett’s kick to score the first try of the game after five minutes.
However, the new look All Blacks soon surged into gear and after Coles went over in the corner following a fine pass from Laumape, the All Blacks were in control.
Mo’unga broke through a Japanese tackle to score his first All Blacks try on 20 minutes before Laumape opened his account to give New Zealand a 24-7 lead after half an hour.
Tries from Japan number eight Hendrik Tui and centre Timothy Lafaele either side of Laumape’s second and a maiden score for All Blacks scrumhalf Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi meant the hosts kept the halftime score respectable at 38-19, though.
Following a raft of changes that saw six more players make their All Black bows, however, the strength in depth at Steve Hansen’s disposal became evident.
During their three previous meetings with New Zealand, Japan had lost by an average of 84 points so the margin of defeat was perhaps a sign of improvement one year out from the World Cup.
Hansen can now head to England and link up with his senior players for their three-match European tour safe knowing he has plenty of depth waiting in the wings.