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Wellington - Backrower Kieran Read has pre-empted New Zealand's selection for their last pool match against Canada by announcing his fitness, availability and his fervent hope of making his Rugby World Cup debut.
Read has missed the All Blacks' Pool A matches against Tonga, Japan and France with a serious ankle injury sustained in last month's Tri-Nations decider against Australia in Brisbane.
The injury threatened to end his tournament before it began but he has been carefully brought back to full fitness and is now bursting to take the field.
The return of Read, who is New Zealand's first-choice No 8, would bring the All Blacks up to full strength just ahead of the knockout rounds.
