'Great Redeemer' Henry seeking redemption

MARC HINTON Last updated 08:30 14/08/2011



JASON OXENHAM/Fairfax Media
DRY AS A DEAD DINGO: All Blacks coach Graham Henry is looking to make amends big-time at the 2011 RWC

All Blacks coach Graham Henry opens up to Marc Hinton on the agony of 2007, how it changed him as a coach and why he's better prepared to deliver the holy grail this time around.

Sometimes with the All Blacks coach it's hard to chip past the veneer of the old headmaster who often meets queries of a more reflective nature with a mix of indifference, humour and hubris. And then sometimes you strike gold with Graham Henry and he gives you a peek inside his intriguing mind.

It's fair to say it was the latter Henry who sat down with the Sunday Star-Times in a rare moment of introspection in the leadup to the Rugby World Cup. Yes, he bared some of that old soul of his and the result was a compelling narrative from a coach who may have an unparalleled record in the professional era, but really is just one of us. He hurts, he bleeds, he even sheds a tear or two.

Henry may be close to the most misunderstood man in New Zealand. A lot of people simply don't get his sense of humour. Sometimes it's so dry that if you waved a match in its direction it would burst into flames. Often people mistake his comedy for arrogance. Sure, like us all, he has an ego lurking within, but for the most part this is a fellow who can laugh at himself – and often does.

He's also incredibly busy (he often rises at 4.30am), not the most organised man in the world and now he's reached pensioner status (four grandkids, one more on the way), er, certain facts don't lodge in his mind as well as they might have in his younger days. Whenever you chat with him now you need to be ready to jump in with a name or fact as he negotiates the haze of his recall.

But this is no old fool. Far from it. His mind remains sharp for the stuff that counts. He knows his rugby, and more importantly knows his rugby players. He has a feel for what works and what doesn't work with the modern footballer, honed on having coached 133 test matches.

It's a well of knowledge that no other coach in world rugby can call upon. And it could just be the difference between the All Blacks ending an agonising 24-year wait for Rugby World Cup glory this September and October in our own backyard. Of course Henry has already had one shot at the damn thing, failing abysmally when his All Blacks tumbled out in that Cardiff quarter-final. Most, including Henry himself, presumed that earliest ever RWC exit would be the end of his time with this team.

But in their wisdom the New Zealand Rugby Union – where Henry has some fairly staunch allies – decided to give him another chance. To ignore the claims of people's champion Robbie Deans and for the first time reappoint a failed world cup coach.

That's as good a place as any to start with Henry now. What made him want to stand again? What were his driving forces for an unprecedented second term?

"There's no doubt I wouldn't be sitting here if we'd won the Rugby World Cup in 2007," he says. "The reason I re-stood was because I didn't want to run away. In my position you put a lot of pressure on people to perform, particularly the young people who play. You expect them to show a lot of backbone and do the business.

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"When we got beaten in the world cup [quarter-final] I could have run away, but I fronted because I thought that was the right thing to do."

You wonder if that took some guts, given the general post-world cup unease.

Henry shrugs off suggestions it was a brave move. Just a necessary one. "I didn't think for a minute I'd get reappointed," he confides. "When I had the interview [wife] Raewyn had come down to Wellington with me and I came back to the hotel after and said `it's all over'. It was a surprise to me."

CARDIFF IS a permanent scar on the Henry psyche. He admits as much as he harks back to that fateful evening in the principality he once ruled like a king.

"It always stays with you, and rightly so. It was massive. The first thing you feel is how to handle this as best you can for the people involved. I think we handled it bloody well. We didn't make any excuses, we took it on the chin and got on with life. That was very important for the young guys involved.

"Obviously it hurt, and still hurts. It was a difficult situation but I'm proud of the way we handled it as a group."

The next question is just how much does that 2007 failure fuel Henry now, especially with potential redemption finally at hand?

He makes one thing clear first: every All Blacks test carries its own pressure. Every one offers the chance to add to a rich legacy. "Winning a Rugby World Cup is not part of our legacy and that hurts. So it's part of your motivation. But every time the All Blacks put on that black jersey it's bloody important. It's not about revenge; it's about doing the business. But those things that happened in the past fuel you."

Like most New Zealand rugby coaches, Henry remembers the defeats more than the wins. So even though he has as incredible 86.2% success rate with the All Blacks (81 of 94 tests), and he's swept the Lions, won three Grand Slams and the Tri Nations five times in seven tilts, it's moments like Cardiff or the Boks sweep of '09 or, even further back, the agonising 1-2 series loss to the Wallabies with the Lions that lodge in the craw. "You remember those times because they hurt and they're very big learning experiences. That's probably natural," he says. Not coincidentally the theme, if you like, of this year's campaign is around learning from the mistakes of the past.

But here's where it gets interesting. Henry wouldn't swap the massive expectation the All Blacks face from their public for anything.

"It's inspirational," he says. "I don't think the All Blacks would be the world's winningest team in any sport, which is correct by a considerable margin, if we didn't have that expectation. So although it adds pressure, it's great pressure. I don't think we as New Zealanders actually appreciate what this team has done. I'm not talking about in my time, I'm talking about over 110 years. It's phenomenal."

HENRY BLAMES the media for this. And he gives me a bit of a glare to reinforce that. Clearly he feels we all take the All Blacks' unrivalled record a bit for granted.

"I don't think the expectation is a negative. It's a real positive. We wouldn't achieve what we do without the public having that expectation."

Henry, with the help of his capable assistants, is succeeding at getting his messages through to the players. They've won 22 of their last 23 tests, for goodness sake. He reckons the key is assembling the right intelligence – "if you've got no information to get across you're wasting your bloody time" – and then applying it sensibly.

He breaks the game-plan down into a two-part equation. Around 75% is constant things such as scrums, lineouts, restarts. Then there's 25% which he calls "the improvement area" and which can make the All Blacks the best in the world.

"That's my job," he explains. "I bring the 25% and the players then throw that out what they don't need and they finish up with 12.5%. That's fine. That's the process.

"The first step is getting the new ideas, the second getting the alignment and the third is making that a viable part of your game. To be viable it has to be simple because when you're running round at 100 miles an hour and making decisions the simpler the better."

Henry relates a funny story at corporate functions. It involves his old skipper Tana Umaga querying him about why he gave team talks close to games. Henry hoped they might be "helpful".

Umaga disabused him of that notion. "I was depressed for a week after that," says the coach with a grin.

So the red-faced, clipboard-thruster in the ads is just a work of fiction? Overplayed, says Henry.

"In the amateur days when there was a bank teller and a farmer and a builder and you brought them together for two training runs and a game the coach's influence was as a button pusher today you're living together for a week, and they get motivated by the environment and the collective challenge to do something special. The old bash on the changing-room walls to do the business is well gone."

That's Henry for you. Old school meets modern times.

MASTER AND COMMANDER

Graham Henry's test coaching recor:

Wales 1998-2002
Played 36 won 22, lost 13, drew 1
Winning percentage 61.1%

British & Irish Lions 2001
Played 3 won 1, lost 2
Winning percentage 33.3%

All Blacks 2004-11
Played 94 won 81, lost 13
Winning percentage 86.2%

Where Henry sits in All Blacks history:

Best coaching records since 1949 (with win ratio)

Fred Allen 1966-68 14 tests, 14 wins 100%
Graham Henry 2004-11 94 tests, 81 wins 86.2%
Alex Wyllie 1988-91 29 tests, 25 wins 86.2%
John Mitchell 2001-03 28 tests, 23 wins, 1 draw 82.1%
Neil McPhail 1961-65 20 tests, 16 wins, 2 draws 80%
Brian Lochore 1985-87 18 tests, 14 wins, 1 draw 77.7%

Another Black night across ditch for Wallabies

Greg Growden

August 7, 2011

Click for more photos

Eden Park hoodoo remains as All Blacks ruthless in 30-14 win

To the victors go the spoils ... the All Blacks celebrate with the Bledisloe Cup. Photo: Getty Images

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SMASHED. Swamped. Made to look second rate. And there goes the Bledisloe Cup for the eighth year running.

MATCH STATS

The All Blacks' extraordinary quarter-century dominance over the Wallabies at Eden Park continued untroubled last night when they took control of this Tri Nations Test in minutes, then stubbornly refused to allow their rivals back into the game.

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After all the bluff and bluster about the new-generation Wallabies suddenly worrying the All Blacks, their first meeting of the year was a demoralising affair from an Australian point of view. The raging World Cup favourites were simply too physical and too clinical for an often-frazzled opposition.

At the start of the Test, the All Blacks conducted their provocative ''slit across the throat'' haka, and this appeared to have the desired effect of unsettling their opponents.

Right from the kick-off, the All Blacks succeeded in carving up the Wallabies, who were soon floundering and forced to play frenetic, disorganised, catch-up football.

For the Wallabies to have any chance at Eden Park, they had to start well. Instead, they were abominable, and paid a dreadful price when finding themselves 17 points behind after just 26 minutes.

The Wallabies put the hobbles on their own legs by allowing the All Blacks midfield to break through and make an enormous amount of ground virtually every time they were in possession in the opening quarter.

Wallabies players fell off tackles, giving the All Blacks confidence and a surge of energy. They were everywhere in numbers, while the visitors were often restricted to scrambling, one-out play.

The Wallabies were lucky to have only two tries scored against them before the break, so dominant were the All Blacks in attack.

After just eight minutes, the All Blacks were 10-0 ahead. Wallabies flanker David Pocock was caught on the wrong side of the breakdown and the home team took advantage when winger Sitiveni Sivivatu got through a Rocky Elsom tackle. Sivivatu then cleverly popped the ball up to flanker Jerome Kaino, who warded off more Wallabies tacklers before putting centre Ma'a Nonu through. There was a brief surge of excitement for the Wallabies midway during the half when they went through 14 phases of play, often pushing it to the wings. But it was soon clear the All Blacks were more effective in defence, knowing precisely what the Wallabies playmakers, in particular Quade Cooper, were up to.

The All Blacks were decidedly more aggressive in their play, often stunning the Wallabies with their belligerent approach, which lead to scuffles aplenty - something which does not often happen in trans-Tasman matches. But the All Blacks knew they could unnerve the Wallabies youngsters by being arrogant - and it worked. They enjoyed a near-perfect first half that also involved their hooker Keven Mealamu scoring a burrowing try.

Adding to the Wallabies' woes was James O'Connor's wayward kicking - he missed his first three penalty shots.

There was some rejoicing in the 52nd minute when the Wallabies were able to make something out of virtually nothing, when fullback Kurtley Beale charged away from the tackle area and sucked in a few defenders before giving winger Digby Ioane space. Ioane picked the right moment to swerve in and out to get around Mils Muliaina to at last put the Wallabies on the scoreboard.

But as usual, their heads turned into pumpkins. The Wallabies relaxed, and wasted the moment. At a time when they had to rally, the All Blacks scored immediately from the kick-off, when their centre Conrad Smith seized the ball and then Sivivatu beat four Wallabies to score.

It was a horrid red-face moment for the Wallabies and ended what little hope they had left of winning the Test.

NEW ZEALAND 30 (Keven Mealamu, Ma’a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu tries Daniel Carter 3 cons 2 pens drop goal) btAUSTRALIA 14 (Rocky Elsom, Digby Ioane tries Quade Cooper 2 cons) at Eden Park. Referee: Craig Joubert.

All Blacks retain Bledisloe Cup with Eden Park win

Highlights of the All Blacks v Wallabies Bledisloe Cup test match played at Eden Park, Auckland.

All Blacks keen to quell cocky Australians

TOBY ROBSON

Last updated 05:00 01/08/2011

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw talks about the importance of Saturday's Bledisloe Cup match against Australia.

Getty Images

GETTING DOWN: Digby Ioane celebrates for the Reds after their Super Rugby final victory over the Crusaders.

Revenge is an obvious starting point for the big guns being ushered back into the All Blacks for this Saturday's Bledisloe Cup test in Auckland.
But All Blacks coach Graham Henry says the squad must maintain its focus on game plans, not emotions, as it builds toward the Rugby World Cup.
It is hard to escape the fact that the All Blacks will want to avenge recent defeats against their trans-Tasman foe, including last year's test loss in Hong Kong and the Crusaders' Super Rugby final loss to the Reds.
The fatigued four of hooker Keven Mealamu, prop Owen Franks, lock Brad Thorn and No8 Kieran Read have become the fresh four and are "likely" to start against the Wallabies.
There are already signs of a quiet desire in the All Blacks camp to stamp out Australia's growing confidence and cockiness.
Prop Ben Franks did his best to steer clear of controversy yesterday, but eventually admitted the wild celebrations that followed both matches did not sit comfortably with the understated Kiwis.
"You just need to watch the games and how they like to act and stuff after a win. So you don't really want to let them win," he said with a grin.
The Reds' post-match celebrations included a breakdancing routine from wing Digby Ioane, while All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw is unlikely to have forgotten the shove in the head he received from first five-eighth Quade Cooper last year.
Henry will not stamp out such thoughts, but knows his side's quest is on a larger scale as it continues to add to its repertoire.
"They are a very good side with some outstanding individual players and I think we've got to be on our game," he said. "We have to be bright in what we do, so it's going to be a big week in trying to get the right game plan to play Australia."
The approach would need to be different from the one that brought the All Blacks a 40-7 win in Wellington.
In other words the All Blacks will continue to develop their game, this time moulding it to a side that will keep the ball in hand far more than the Springboks.
First five-eighth Dan Carter said the players were realistic about what they had achieved in Wellington, but were pleased to have successfully trialled new methods, particularly on attack.
The challenge will be to continue the good work with new combinations, though it is becoming obvious most of this Tri-Nations campaign has been carefully planned.
The team to play the Wallabies would be "a strong test side", but Henry said the selectors would continue to manage each player individually and hinted some players who had a heavy load in the first two tests could get a rest.
"There are some guys in the squad who need space, they've played a lot of football. You can't send them all home at the same time, so there will be some who get a chance to recharge."

Time is right for bit of old black magic

JUSTIN MARSHALL

Last updated 05:00 25/07/2011

OPINION: If the All Blacks are going to make a bold statement – fire the first psychological blow in this all-important rugby year – then they need to produce something emphatic over the next fortnight.

The phoney war is over and the Tri-Nations, albeit abbreviated, is before us. Nothing short of two wins at home against South Africa on Saturday and Australia a week later will do.

While in the event of a loss in either game I would caution against hitting the panic button, the importance of this next two weeks cannot be overstated. The Rugby World Cup will be played on our turf, our grounds, in our cities, and in an environment we feel at home in.

That's why it's so important the All Blacks lay down a marker in this Tri-Nations and produce the type of obdurate performance which will win us the cup – hard, hostile, uncompromising, ruthless and very accurate.

Imagine if the Aussies beat us at Eden Park on August 6. Imagine the boost their confidence would receive.

Perhaps it's better not to. They're never short on confidence, so while these next four tests won't win us the cup, they could contribute to losing it. Step one was on Friday night when the All Blacks took on Fiji.

Richie McCaw's side was solid, if not spectacular, and I think the All Blacks should be reasonably pleased with their performance. There was plenty of rust and yet they managed to score 60 points while looking a tad average. We also garnered a small insight into their game plan for this year, which they need to evolve. Teams will come to New Zealand this year having studied their every move.

While it was impossible to fully assess how much progress the All Blacks have made against Fiji, they appeared to make some tweaks, which could be effective when the big guns are ushered back in after their rests.

Australia too appear to have moved on from last year.

They looked good in beating an under-strength South African side 39-20 on Saturday night. Both sides will be tremendously difficult to beat at home in the Tri-Nations. That's why executing Henry's blueprint for success will be as important as retaining the championship.

In other words, I want to see substance over style. For any last-minute tips, Henry need look no further than Christchurch's Rugby Park on Saturday, where Southland won the Ranfurly Shield off Canterbury, notably, via a rarity in New Zealand rugby, a drop goal.

The win should resonate not only in Invercargill, where the passion for the log is undimmed. Southland are now expert in their approach and attitude in sudden-death-style rugby. They are the obdurate, stubborn, win-it-any-way-possible force the All Blacks aspire and need to be over the next few weeks.