Coach Steve Hansen has confirmed Kieran Read will captain the All Blacks this year.

The 85-Test No 8 takes over from Richie McCaw, who retired after New Zealand won back-to-back Rugby World Cups late last year.

โ€œWe have known for quite some time that five of the guys are going to be leaving.

โ€œWe've known for a while and we've planned for that,โ€ Hansen told Radio Sport.

โ€œReado's had experience already as captain nine times and whilst it will be a new experience to be there fulltime, at least he's had a taste of it.โ€

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