North suffered the injury in Saturday’s 39-21 defeat to the All Blacks in the first test at Eden Park.
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In a test which swung from scintillating to scrappy, in the end it was the pace and intensity of the All Blacks in the closing 20 minutes that determined the outcome.
Although Read has captained the All Blacks 9 times before he said to be taking over as the national captain was a “great” feeling.
“That was the message for us”, he said.
“It was a tight spot”.
“You would hope that is tight and it comes down to the latter stages”, the former Wales flyhalf told reporters at a damp Eden Park on Friday. I said we had to be fearless and be bold and we did that.
“They’ve got a big week, haven’t they, with the hometown game for Warren (Gatland)?” said New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen in reference to his opposite number.
Chiefs coach Dave Rennie said with Gatland’s history, the match was a “perfect” fit, and the franchise was “thankful” for them playing it.
You can keep in touch with our updates from the squad throughout the day right here. The trademark of Hansen’s All Blacks is the way they finish strongly, even when they’ve played well below their potential.
But the New Zealander, who succeeded Gareth Jenkins in the Welsh job in 2007, has won three Six Nations crowns, including two Grand Slams, in his time in charge of the country – feats that Biggar has acknowledged would be significantly outstripped by any triumph on Kiwi soil.
The hosts let their intensity slip in the second quarter and Wales closed the gap with penalties to Dan Biggar before a try to scrumhalf Rhys Webb gave them a first ever halftime lead against the All Blacks in New Zealand.
Moments later it was the home fans who were crowing when Faletau had what would have been his second try ruled out or being in front of the kicker as he raced onto the ball and 25 metres to the try line.
“But as they’ve shown, and that’s why they’re the best side in the world, and constantly show that, prove that, they go away in the last 10-15 minutes”.
Soon after the restart the All Blacks struck twice in quick succession.
Naholo, who was unsafe with ball in hand all night, created the first with a break before Cruden’s cross kick was pulled in by Savea.
So, too, was defence out wide, where he felt winger George North, who made a number of unsafe breaks before ending the match injured, was given too much space.
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It was a 30-metre North break that again lifted Wales’ spirits but their attempt to test Ben Smith with a high kick backfired.
