All Blacks captain Kieran Read has eased himself back into match fitness with an industrious stint for a Counties selection in a pre-season trial against Tasman.
The forward hasn't played since undergoing back surgery in December and All Blacks brass were looking to use the match as a litmus test, before thrusting him back into the Super Rugby fold.
Read put in a 40-minute shift at a packed Manurewa Rugby Club against a Tasman side that had clearly come to play, leading 12-7 as the sides made their way to the halftime oranges.
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- All Blacks captain Kieran Read makes welcome return to training
It was a rare appearance on home turf for the the Papakura product and it was fairly unremarkable.
He was afforded plenty of opportunity to work on his defence, as the visitors spent the majority of the half camped inside their own territory, but struggled to convert their possession into points.
All Blacks teammate Jordan Taufua, who missed the recent French series through injury, was also in action, receiving a late call-up to start for the visitors in an injury-enforced change, after originally being named to start off the bench.
That set up an unlikely grassroots clash of international number eights and with Tim Perry anchoring a dominant Tasman scrum, the South Islanders had the upper hand throughout the opening stanza.
Read was into the thick of proceedings from the opening whistle, making the game's first tackle, then moments later soaring for a crisp line-out take.
He made one particularly bruising run from the base of a ruck, tearing off 15 metres, before a jarring hit from Crusaders teammate Taufua.
At full-time, the scores were tied at 26-26.
"Once I signed for Counties, it was always my goal to try and get a game in," he said afterwards. "I know it's not an official game, but it's still pretty cool to pull on the colours and have a run around with the boys.
"The body's actually alright - it's certainly tiring. It's going to be a step up when I go to Super Rugby obviously, but it's nice to get a hit out.
"I needed that after a long time out of the game. The legs are pretty sore - you can't replicate a game out on the training paddock - and I'm sure I'll be better for it."
And one of the world rugby's top performers seemed to enjoy being back at the coalface of provincial game.
"I obviously don't know too many of them, but we're all rugby players at the end of the day and when you get out on the field, we're all equal."
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