12 Sep 2011

Read says he's on track for final World Cup pool match

6:41 pm on 12 September 2011

The injured All Black Kieran Read has declared he is on target to play Canada in New Zealand's final World Cup pool match in early October after struggling with an ankle sprain.

Read has been sidelined for the past two weeks after suffering the injury in the 25-20 loss to Australia in the Tri-Nations decider during the run-in to the World Cup.

Read says the plan is to start running again next week, with all the signs positive for a start in the Canada test in three weeks time.

There were initial fears Read would be ruled out of the entire World Cup, but scans quickly revealed he would be ready to play again in five or six weeks.