Henry hails ‘heroic’ ABs
16 Oct 2011
All Blacks coach Graham Henry has described Sunday’s performance as outstanding and is hoping for a repeat showing in the World Cup final next week.
Henry and captain Richie McCaw were beaming at Sunday’s post-match press-conference, and the coach struggled to hold back the superlatives. The All Blacks beat the Wallabies 20-6 by overpowering them in the forward exchanges and by playing a smarter tactical game.
They smashed the Wallabies at the collisions and thus nullified David Pocock at the breakdown. They handled the Wallabies’ aerial assault with aplomb, and were spot on with most of their tactical kick returns. Their dominance in these facets allowed them to control both possession and territory.
‘It was outstanding,’ said Henry. ‘It was a heroic effort. I’m very proud of the boys and hopefully we can do it again next week.
‘The character the guys showed was superb, I couldn’t have asked for more.’
Henry singled out the effort of his captain. ‘I was very pleased with Richie’s ability as a player as well as his leadership. I know he will try to be modest and give credit to the tight five [for laying the platform], but he was just outstanding.’
As expected, McCaw did deflect the praise by hailing the efforts of the All Blacks’ pack.
‘You can’t single out one or two players,’ he said. ‘The scrum gave the backs some good ball to attack with, and from there we were able to get into good positions on the field and set up scoring chances. Big scrums can change the momentum of big games and we saw that tonight.
‘We realised that we needed to lift our intensity for a semi-final against a team like the Wallabies. We knew we had to take it to the next level, and I’m glad we were able to create the pressure and turn that into points.’
Turning his attention to France, McCaw said that the All Blacks wouldn’t stray from the game plan that brought them success against the Wallabies.
‘We will need the same type of performance if not a better one,’ he said. ‘We’ve given ourselves a chance by getting into the final, but we now have to prepare well in the build up to next week’s Test.’
Henry agreed that France shouldn’t be taken lightly. Neither Henry nor McCaw have forgotten the feeling of losing to the French in the 2007 World Cup quarter-final in Cardiff.
‘The job hasn’t been done yet, we will need to do it again next week,’ said Henry. ‘I think that the fact that it’s France will ensure that we get our feet on the ground. It will take a few days [after this semi-final victory] but we have a lot of respect for France and won’t take them lightly.’
On the injury front, Henry confirmed that All Blacks centre Ma’a Nonu was struggling with a back spasm towards the end of Sunday’s game. The All Blacks will have an update on Nonu on Monday.
By Jon Cardinelli, at Eden Park
53 Comments
16 Oct 2011, 13:58 pm
great win kiwis….
awesome
aussies blown away!
16 Oct 2011, 14:15 pm
Thanks it was a privilege to see a team that you support to be do succinct and professional in the way they handled the moment.
16 Oct 2011, 14:19 pm
Nonu’s injured? Hope it is nothing serious, we need to match the French physically and Nonu is capable of doing that.
16 Oct 2011, 14:47 pm
Heck I wouldn’t have called it an oustanding win. Australia were shocking.
Constant mistakes, panicked under the high ball, missed something like a tackle a minute over the first 20.
All Blacks did play well though for patches, but also made plenty of mistakes on offense. The one area of their game I’d be very very proud of though if I were them would be defense. People were talking about Australia’s defense last week, but that was more about getting away with illegal tactics at the breakdown. On this occasion, New Zealand really didn’t look like conceding.
They also didn’t rely too much on Cruden. He wasn’t their ‘go to’ man, which was good to see. Proves that Dan Carter really wasn’t what kept the team ticking over, he just added a bit extra from what they already had.
Much as I hate to say it, well played All Blacks, you deserve to win this (if you beat France of course – If you don’t, considering how useless the French are, then something is seriously wrong
).
16 Oct 2011, 14:51 pm
When we take the Frogs next week Henry will be crowned the greatest coach of all time.
16 Oct 2011, 14:56 pm
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-5:
Oh dear. He’d be 1 from 2 man. That’s a very biased opinion right there.
In the modern era, what about Clive Woodward? He made England, yes England, into the best team in the world. Does that not warrant being near the top?
16 Oct 2011, 14:58 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-6:
I think having won a RWC (if he does) and have the best record by far over all coaches then i GH
should be one of the greatest ever.
16 Oct 2011, 14:59 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-6:
Not to mention Kitch Christie. (Wouldn’t personally put him up there… but yeah)
Unbeaten as Springbok coach and has a World Cup win to his name.
What makes Henry better then him? Because the NZ public say so? That’s a laugh.
A World Cup win at home, helped by not having to face South Africa or Wales due to poor refereeing, and all of a sudden everyone else is rubbish and New Zealand are the greatest.
Bloody typical. The reason I didn’t want the All Blacks winning the World Cup right here.
16 Oct 2011, 15:02 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-7:
Hmmm maybe the greatest ever is a bit much.
How about a damn fine coach,
16 Oct 2011, 15:02 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-7:
One of the best, yes, but to crown him as the best would be ignorant.
If you have the best players (which NZ claim to have), then aren’t you expected to win most of the time? And wouldn’t that mean the players deserve more praise then the coach?
Can’t win a WC at home, and then crown them all the best. But I predict we’ll hear “Greatest NZ rugby team ever” and “Greatest coach ever” many times after the final.
16 Oct 2011, 15:05 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-8:
Why do you keep saying cos we didnt have to face Wales??
They havnt beat us in what 40 years?
So really your disaapointed that NZ have beaten everyone so far and the Boks lost?
I dont understand where you are coming from Hendy
16 Oct 2011, 15:06 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-9:
Damn fine coach I could go for.
One thing I’d criticize about him is he doesn’t back players when they hit even the slightest rough patch.
Jimmy Cowan was the first-choice not long ago. Now he can’t even make the 22.
Victor Vito had barely played for the All Blacks, nek minute he’s in the World Cup squad ahead of a guy who’s been there for the past year, who wasn’t outstanding but definitely didn’t need to be dropped for poor performances.
Stephen Donald not the greatest flyhalf, but he also managed him terribly.
For me, Henry is a very good coach who works with a very good team. Greatness? Definitely not. If anything, greatness should be reserved for the players, but there are better coaches doing things with lesser players.
16 Oct 2011, 15:08 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-10:
Well lets look at it this way. A coach has a lot to do with the way a team plays. Isnt the reasons why SA has lost so many times is cos of PDV?
Thats whats been said on here for years. Players have alot to do with it as well and the coach shouldnt take all the credit but he has to organise his players and to use them correctly.
16 Oct 2011, 15:09 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-11:
It doesn’t matter that they hadn’t beaten the All Blacks in 40 years. They were an in-form team, and were undone by a poor refereeing decision.
It’s similar to the SA situation in 2007. Yes we won the World Cup, but I guess I’d have to concede that for it to have been completely fair, we should have faced New Zealand, who were well and truly screwed over by Barnes, not only with the forward pass but his refereeing in general.
Wales would’ve been a much tougher opposition then France. New Zealand will not be facing the best team – that is what I’m getting at.
16 Oct 2011, 15:10 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-12:
” One thing I’d criticize about him is he doesn’t back players when they hit even the slightest rough patch.”
Very observant mate. I too think the same.
Piri was left out long ago cos of something Henry didnt like or couldnt cope with.
He is a stubborn old mule
16 Oct 2011, 15:11 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-6:
89% test winning record in over 100 tests, more tri nations, more grand slams and a world cup shortly, Woodward isn’t a touch on this guy 05′ Lions proved that
16 Oct 2011, 15:14 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-13:
I guess it’s just my opinion… and I don’t think PdV is half as bad as people make out.
I actually thought he was smart to keep that squad together. Many great players. It’s just a shame we were undone by Lawrence, because even if we had lost to NZ in the semi-final, I’m sure we’d have left on a high note… it really would have been the 2 best sides facing each other.
What you need to understand about John Smit – he’s been called tubby and that since he started playing for the Boks. He put up with this same rubbish during Jake White’s time. Yes Bismarck was better, but was John poor? No. It comes down to ignorant SA supporters who don’t like him for whatever reason (some of them just won’t like the way he looks, it’s the South African way).
Graham Henry for me is an excellent coach, but his man management is not great, and I don’t know squat about his tactical knowledge. That doesn’t equal the greatest coach ever in my books.
16 Oct 2011, 15:15 pm
Whats Woodwards winning % far lower than Henry’s.
16 Oct 2011, 15:16 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-17:
You lost to Australia in Durban a few weeks ago and Wales and Samoa very nearly turned you over but yer you’re one of the best teams lol
16 Oct 2011, 15:18 pm
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-16:
Like I said, excellent coach, but greatest ever?
Just 2 years ago he went 0-3 against the Springboks.
Nick Mallett went 17 games unbeaten with the Springboks, and led Italy to a win over France. He also made Stade Francais one of the top clubs in Europe (and since he’s left they’ve been on a downward spiral). Why is he not the best coach ever?
It’s a biased opinion. Henry has been good for this squad yes, but he can’t be nominated separately for any award that includes the words ‘greatest’.
16 Oct 2011, 15:18 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-17:
Fair enough mate.
And i agree about Smit as well.
I think he would have still been in the ABs as well if he was Kiwi. He does have an aura about him, he knows how to keep his team on the straight, something that SA is going to miss is that leadership.
16 Oct 2011, 15:20 pm
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-19:
Samoa nearly beat us? I hadn’t noticed.
As for Wales, they should have been in the World Cup final. I didn’t realize they were weak. Thanks for informing me.
End of the day rugby was an 80 minute game, and we were much better then Australia during those 80 minutes. Undone by refereeing, and therefore New Zealand faced a lesser team that couldn’t figure out how to get the ball out of their own half.
Seems you now consider the All Blacks invincible, so debate is out the window.
16 Oct 2011, 15:23 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-20:
because in over 100 test matches Henry has won around 90% of his games no other coache gets near that with that amount of tests played , that is an incedible record, the WC next week will be the icing on the cake
16 Oct 2011, 15:24 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-22:
no not invincible just the best team on the planet
16 Oct 2011, 15:27 pm
the boks
would have
klapped the
mediocre keewees
but lawrence
in cahoots with
the nzru
decided
oyherwise
16 Oct 2011, 15:28 pm
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-24:
I can agree with best team on the planet. They are the best at this World Cup no doubt.
I’ll put Henry as a ‘top-10 coach’. Bunch them together rather then selecting anybody at the top is a lot more fair.
16 Oct 2011, 15:28 pm
@Porra the Fat and Clever Speedster(Porra)-25:
otherwise
16 Oct 2011, 15:29 pm
@Porra the Fat and Clever Speedster(Porra)-25:
yer like you klapped Australia in Durban and at the WC, keep talking mate its very entertaining
16 Oct 2011, 15:30 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-26:
fair call but if he wins this WC can’t see how you could put anybody above him with his record
16 Oct 2011, 15:33 pm
@Porra the Fat and Clever Speedster(Porra)-25:
I’m not so sure. It would’ve been a fairer match-up, but Eden Park is near impossible venue to win at, and New Zealand are much better defenders & play territory a lot better then Australia.
I think it would’ve been a closer game, but I’m not about to say New Zealand wouldn’t have won. I’m happy to call this their World Cup, and we’ll try for the next one
16 Oct 2011, 15:37 pm
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-29:
Like I said to Hurricane, it’s not like their all on even terms? They don’t all have players of equal quality.
Henry also has a bunch of great players to work with, so how much of it comes down to that? It’s not like he’s winning the World Cup with a bunch of no-names.
If that record means anything, then what about Gatland vs Henry for Wales? I can’t recall Henry taking Wales to what should have been a World Cup final! But that doesn’t make Gatland the best coach.
You get what I’m saying?
He can be a great coach, but no coach can ever lay claim to being the greatest, unless he won the 2015 World Cup with USA or something along those lines, if it truly was beyond a doubt.
16 Oct 2011, 17:58 pm
The best rugby game in the RWC so far. Congratulations New Zealand. Well done!
Australia did not make it today but will remain one of my favourite rugby teams in world rugby. Even when losing they play a brand of rugby that is mostly a joy to watch.
My wish for the next four years is that the Springboks will play every test like the All Blacks during the past four years. All tests are simply played to be won at all cost and with the best 15/22 players.
And…the captain of the boks be also the best player in his position.
New Zealand… win the RWC…as a team and a nation of rugby lovers you deserve it!
16 Oct 2011, 19:42 pm
I am a die hard SA supporter, and reading through the comments, I want to add the following:
1) Henry deserves the accolade of best coach of this generration, no doubt.
2) Yes he has had the best players in the world, he still had to manage and prepare them and he has done that.
3)90% win ratio is unmatche by any coach in world rugby who has coached more than 50 tests.
Now on the contrary, would a JW, Jones, Gatland, Woodward performed the same under the same conditions? I think they would.
Kiwis were excellent yesterday, and it was more about mental preparation at this stage of the tournament. They need to hold it together and remember that they have to win one more, cause if any team can bring them down to earth, its the french.
All this talk about Wales being brilliant is a phase. They did not beat the boks, and beat ireland, big deal. They should have beat the french and could not, just like us versus the Aussies. They will regress after this RWC, I believe they have reached the pinnacle as their go to players will go off the boil after this tournamentm (roberts, williams, phillips at least)
Final comment, I will not proclaim that this is a farce tournament if the ABs win cause they never faced the Boks (like some will), I will congratulate them on achieving something that is a major prize for them.
16 Oct 2011, 21:31 pm
So is Henry gonna resign after the Final, win or lose?
And who is gonna be the next coach, Blackadder or who?
16 Oct 2011, 21:49 pm
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-5: SIR Graham Henry. And SIR Richard McCaw.
16 Oct 2011, 21:51 pm
@BULLET(BULLET)-33: JW? The 49-0 coach? The walloped by Ireland one?
16 Oct 2011, 22:30 pm
What a MasterPlan it was by King Henry to target Cooper all night, nowhere to hide wherever he was placed on Defense whether it was at FB or on the wing, the ball was sent to him repeatedly. The high’n'shallow kicks put all 15 onside and allowed pressure to be applied and build on to Cooper throughout. He had an absolute MARE. And finishing with his smug chops concertinaed deep in to the Eden Park turf with the sound of 50,000+ Kiwis ringing in his ears.
Justice4 Quade.
beeeeeeeeeeautiful
16 Oct 2011, 22:33 pm
Tackler, the one with the RWC
16 Oct 2011, 23:30 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-31: Hendrikp you have been saying this All Black team is nothing special for the last 2 months now today…suddenly you change your tune…don’t be fooled by his about turn..
You try to be clever but really you have no more clue than the rest of us.
17 Oct 2011, 00:00 am
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-4: Thanks HP, the ABs put all their energy into smashing the Aussies up, and didn’t try to do much on attack at all (apart from in the first 5 mins leading to Nonu’s try). It was a bit ugly, but hey, as the Boks have showed, it is the way to win knock out rugby. I was really proud of the way the AB’s played.
17 Oct 2011, 00:14 am
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-6: Its not just about winning the RWC you know. Woodward also got caned as the Lions coach, and I dont think his overall win loss record is as good as Henrys will be at the time he retires.
Additional to that, Henry coached the Blues to S12 titles, etc
Take off your hatred for anything NZ and see things for what they are. You must live in constant turmoil watching us far more than we lose.
17 Oct 2011, 00:18 am
@Porra the Fat and Clever Speedster(Porra)-25: Porra you muppet – like so many of your mypoic countrymen, “The boks woulda, coulda, shoulda…..” talking up things that dont actually exist, its called dreaming, and youre a dreamer.
Boks may well have been wiped off the park last night, the AB’s committed men to the rucks with pace, something the boks havent managed to do the whole tournament.
17 Oct 2011, 00:39 am
@toby(toby)-39: Problem is Toby, he hates NZ, and this impairs his judgement. He can not create reason because his rage is too strong for his brain to cope with common sense
17 Oct 2011, 00:49 am
@KiaKahaNZ(KiaKahaNZ)-42:
“Boks may well have been wiped off the park last night, the AB’s committed men to the rucks with pace, something the boks havent managed to do the whole tournament.”
Coulda, would shoulda ? We will never know dude
17 Oct 2011, 00:50 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-35:
Why would they want to be something created by the English? Doos comment!
17 Oct 2011, 02:15 am
@whatever(whatever)-44: thats why I said “may well have been’ not as direct as “would have”, big difference
And yep, we will never know
17 Oct 2011, 05:58 am
@whatever(whatever)-45: Because Queen Elizabeth II remains our titular head of state, as she is for Australia.
17 Oct 2011, 05:59 am
@BULLET(BULLET)-38: The 49-0 one then… *cringing*
17 Oct 2011, 07:09 am
Good luck to the AB’s They deserve to be there they have done nothing wrong yet. I really enjoyed your hospitality while traveling there during the World Cup and think you have a great country apart from Bryce.
17 Oct 2011, 07:54 am
@Airwell(Airwell)-49:
Thanks Airwell.
Glad you enjoyed your stay as well
17 Oct 2011, 08:18 am
Well done one more game boys one more game – any doubts that McCaw is still the best no 7 in the world ????
I can see France being hammered on Saturday , they were not just bad against Wales , they were shocking – Abs by 20
17 Oct 2011, 08:47 am
@stew(stew)-51:
Hard task comparing the three top players, but I tend to agree.
McCaw has definitely lost a bit of nip he had before, but he compensates with unbelievable street smarts.
One penalty for holding on to a player in a ruck during the entire game and I recall a blogger here raving that Joubert had finally worked him out.
1 penalty and Joubert has worked him out? yeah right!
17 Oct 2011, 13:08 pm
1 win away ……
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