New Zealand skipper Kieran Read fit for semi-final against England - Steve Hansen

New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen played down concerns about the availability of skipper Kieran Read for the upcoming World Cup semi-final against England to be played in Yokohama on Saturday.

The 33-year-old missed the training session on Tuesday that sparked doubt on his availability for the clash against an in-form England side but Hansen revealed that Read had a sore calf and did not want to take any chance in the wet conditions.

"Yeah, 100 per cent," said Hansen on Read's availability for the weekend's game.

"There is no issue. You didn't see him train because he was in the gym on the bike.

"He got a tight calf from the game the other day and we didn't want to put him out on a wet track."

 

Earlier, England coach Eddie Jones lavished praise on the All Blacks describing them as the greatest team in sports history but Hansen is wary of any mind game from the Australian.

"That's a really nice statement," added Hansen with a grin. "I'm sure Eddie believes that but he's also being quite kind.

"It's [kidology] a real thing but sometimes you're better not to go there. Eddie is a smart man. He knows me well, I know him."

Both the teams have faced each other 41 times with New Zealand emerging victorious on 33 occasions including the last six games against England.