Read said reaching the playoffs stage of a World Cup was an honour and it was going to be a huge game with Ireland.
"We know how close the games have been over the last few years with them and it's an exciting challenge. This is where we set out to be, in this position, at the start of the World Cup, so for me I can't wait. I've been enjoying the week so far but obviously the fun part is Saturday so I'm looking forward to that.
"We've trained as well as we can and we're in a great position to go out there and perform on the field. A lot of it comes down to your mental application, we've done a bit of work on that as well as the physical side," he said.
The less experienced players in the backline had been selected for how they were performing now.
"They're playing some great footy and they have cool heads on their shoulders. These guys are not experienced in terms of Test level but they've played in big games. This year for us they've been outstanding so I think they will do the same again this week," he said.
As the emphasis went from the coaches and the preparation to the players getting ready for the game it was important for the players to remember the details of what they had been working on and to ensure that was embedded so they could trust it and their abilities in what they could do in the game.
"A finals game will bring a little bit more nerves, a little more pressure obviously and it does create a bit of stuff in you physically which is great to have and it is important to mix that with a clear mind.
"I want the guys to be pretty fired up for this game, we'll need to be in the right space but you can't be over that line, you've just got to be in the right area. It's an exciting part," he said.
Read said the Irish were a really good team and while they hadn't played to their best in the tournament, it was a playoffs game and there might be only one or two opportunities that were presented for either side. And in the last few games Ireland had taken their opportunities to beat the All Blacks who hadn't taken their chances.
"It'll come down to that again. I think we're in a good place to be in at this time of the tournament."
The All Blacks respected what Ireland had achieved against them recently but the World Cup was a 'totally different ball game'.
It was a finals game at a World Cup, two teams that were ranked very highly, they were good sides and it was about turning up on the day. They had taken lessons from those most recent games against Ireland but this game, with so much hanging on it, would be slightly different to those games.
"We've got to be a lot better than what we were and that's across the board. We've just got to make sure we nail our performance and that will bring about the result, I'm sure," he said.