Birthday cards from his children put the loss to England in the Rugby World Cup semi-final in perspective for All Blacks captain Kieran Read.

The 19-7 defeat to England was not the present Read would have wanted for his 34th birthday, but that disappointment was changed when he got back to his hotel room.

Read says he got back to the hotel room and there were cards from his kids waiting for him so it changes things, it put things in perspective.

Read added that the messages of support were helping him and the team get over the defeat.

TVNZ

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