Henry: ‘It’s about the World Cup’
18 Jul 2006
All Blacks coach Graham Henry has emphasised once again the World Cup of 2007 is what motivates every team selection. Hence the eight changes to the team that walloped the Wallabies.
Questioned again because of the rotation policy, Henry reminded the New Zealand media that the bigger picture since his appointment has always been the World Cup.
And to win the World Cup he felt New Zealand needed 30 players capable of playing test rugby.
“We might win on Saturday by keeping to the same 15, that might give us an even greater chance, but it might not bring the carrot that we’re looking for (in World Cup success),” Henry declared.
“The major thing is that through the campaigns now until the end of the World Cup, we’re a team of 30 players. We’ve just got to make sure that we keep the 30 on edge and involved. If you pick 22 guys and have eight sitting around doing nothing for a campaign you’re not going to get the unity in the group that you need to win a Rugby World Cup … you’re not going to get the commitment from those eight.”
The biggest talking point is the return to test rugby of Rueben Thorne, who won 23 and few one of his 28 tests as captain of John Mitchell’s All Blacks. Thorne has not played a home test since 2003.
Forwards coach Steve Hansen said Thorne deserved his chance: “He’s playing really good rugby … he had a great Super 14.”
Hansen also stressed that the All Blacks would never underestimate the Springboks.
“They are a formidable foe,” said Hansen. “They will be very, very angry sitting in their hotel thinking about that game. They won’t need too much motivation other than that.”
192 Comments
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18 Jul 2006, 13:54 pm
Skim I’m trying to help here
18 Jul 2006, 13:55 pm
Yawn…
18 Jul 2006, 13:56 pm
Ag, Dutchie. Moet nou nie jou hol in ‘n krul ruk nie ****. Laat ek raak, jy support daai span wat van die grond af eet…?
18 Jul 2006, 13:57 pm
Grrr predictions for Saturday? Anyone can see
the(ir) gat in Kimberley.
18 Jul 2006, 13:57 pm
****, our power went out.
Since no-one claimed 150, I claim it now.
18 Jul 2006, 13:58 pm
Red
I’m over predicting. Well, ok then… I predict I’m going to get hammered on saterday!
18 Jul 2006, 13:58 pm
skim,
In black-and-yellow garden spiders, males die spontaneously during mating.
18 Jul 2006, 13:58 pm
Skim wears purple payamas in the day…
18 Jul 2006, 13:59 pm
Grrr,
methinks I’ll do the same, just at home this time, the lovely lady of mine came to “fetch” me on Saturday…
18 Jul 2006, 14:00 pm
dont forget my cool scull buckle!
18 Jul 2006, 14:01 pm
Rockspiders wear two-tone khaki
18 Jul 2006, 14:01 pm
Red
Good on you mate!!
18 Jul 2006, 14:03 pm
Petrus Johannes jakobus,
what are you finking of my khaki safari suit?
18 Jul 2006, 14:04 pm
Ja kleinjan koos,
I are very liking it,
It are looking very much full of style.
18 Jul 2006, 14:05 pm
I fink it’s looooovely!!! Ha, ha… hey ek kan mos’sie so spot nie!
18 Jul 2006, 14:06 pm
Ja, sies!
18 Jul 2006, 14:08 pm
WP BULLS …. WP won
WP CHEETAHS …. WP won
Bulls Sharks … sharks to win
Stan….. 3 more days …. he he he he he he he.
Tjis will really prove that the Bulls are on the way out and good riddance.
18 Jul 2006, 14:10 pm
PROOOOOOVIIINCEE!!!
18 Jul 2006, 14:12 pm
The thread is dying….
18 Jul 2006, 14:12 pm
Red – we would never frequent Teazers…..
We are firmly Mavericks people.
18 Jul 2006, 14:14 pm
If Schalla were to stand on your foot with his 6-stud boot, you’d experience about three times atmospheric pressure at those points.
If a 50kg lady were to step on your foot with a one square cm heel, you’d experience 25 times atmospheric pressure – enough to pass through your foot.
18 Jul 2006, 14:15 pm
The lollipop rules!!!
PROOOOOVINCE
Anyone notice Stan has been quiet after WP beat Cheetahs and now the Blows play Sharks
he he he he he
18 Jul 2006, 14:22 pm
It’s dead!
18 Jul 2006, 14:25 pm
Soos n mossie…
18 Jul 2006, 14:28 pm
As dead as the Bulls will be come the Sharks game.
18 Jul 2006, 14:29 pm
The bulls are already dead.
Like their game-plan.
18 Jul 2006, 14:31 pm
Ig are you referring to the club or the reporting on the site?
18 Jul 2006, 14:39 pm
It’s about the benjamins.
18 Jul 2006, 14:41 pm
Hehehe Red…..a bit of both.
18 Jul 2006, 14:51 pm
net-en-yahoo
18 Jul 2006, 14:52 pm
The tread is dead,
I’m lying in my bed..
ziggy ziggy booya,
ching ching
check out my bling bling!
Yeah yeah!
Gangster rap!
18 Jul 2006, 14:53 pm
That just aboyt “rap’s” it up for me.
Cheers guys.
18 Jul 2006, 15:11 pm
Ig
I have got a great idee. Would it be possible for you guys to let the muppits pick a first 15? Over a few days. We post the names and by counting the votes by say the end of the month, we select our team. I am sure you’ve got some fancy program which you can use to count the votes.
18 Jul 2006, 15:57 pm
Brickwall enough man.
18 Jul 2006, 16:04 pm
Ha,
How funny it would be if NZ stumble again somewhere on the road to the final whistle of RWC07. All this team building and effort for nothing.
18 Jul 2006, 16:04 pm
unfortunately, I have to concede that gh propably knows whats he’s doing.
1. everyone including the boks think that this a b side. the truth is that only rthorne, tuitopou and hamilton will not make the starting 15. of the other replacements its quite close. oliver for mealamu, weepu for kelleher … get my drift?
2. most of the 2nd stringers will know that this is maybe 1 of their last chances to impress gh.
3. this guys will also know that the boks will be coming hard at them for picking a “b†team and they’d better on top of their game!
so while we feel affronted by the b team, theres actually logic in the insanity of selecting this team
19 Jul 2006, 04:40 am
Skim you thick plank you losing your touch boet. he ha.
19 Jul 2006, 05:33 am
Looks like some rugby desperadoes are hoping like hell that the All Black world cup campaign suddenly and inexplicably FAILS rather than backing the team of their choice to SUCCEED by being better prepared.
As long as the AB’s don’t win the thing, it will somehow mysteriously serve to make the Boks look better?
Well, boys and girls, you DO NOT get any bragging rights when other teams lose. You only get to brag for four more years when your team actually WINS the thing!
And if the All Blacks fall over in the RWC 2007, they will have to console themselves by winning as much of the remaining silverware as possible in between. You have to admit they’re very good at that.
So what do SA teams do when THEIR world cup campaign tanks, as usual? Sit around and make lame excuses?
19 Jul 2006, 07:06 am
Cant wait to watch the All Blacks hammer the boks on Saturday. I sure as hell hope that the Japies turn up with their best game, but this one is a foregone conclusion.
Me and my mates down here are looking foward to the games in SA the most, on the high velts on hard dry grounds with screaming fans giving the boks that 20% extra they need to be competitive. Thats the highlight of the trinations for me.
It doesnt matter what team we play, when they wear the black jersey they are the ALL Blacks and they are unbeatable. I cant see us losing a game this year – or next year. Look out world because we have already started our winnning streak that will not be broken until well after Paris next year….
…and on our current form i have every right to be as optimistic as i am, and quite serious aswell.
19 Jul 2006, 09:46 am
No mate it’s an excuse for when you lose your next game. And all of Kiwi land then goes into a state of depression.
19 Jul 2006, 09:48 am
264 is the question why asked, skim please explain you dumb arse.
19 Jul 2006, 09:56 am
Holy **** I’ve just been through all them post’s please don’t feed the ******…..
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