Henry: 'The heat is on the All Blacks'
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:06
Getting hot: All Blacks coach Graham Henry
New Zealand coach Graham Henry admits that his team failed to improve during the opening three Tests this year and they under extreme pressure heading into the Tri-Nations series.
The All Blacks started their season in an unconvincing fashion, losing to the French 22-27 in the first Test but they managed to avoid an embarrassing series loss by securing an unimpressive victory in the second test.
The All Black then laboured to another inept performance against Italy in which Henry's mood clearly shifted.
"Disappointing, very disappointing," Henry told the Dominion Post in the wake of the first three Tests.
"What more can you say? We're disappointed with how the boys played and we've got a lot of work to do before we play Australia. We went back a couple of steps.
"We were hoping to build on the Wellington performance, and we haven't done that.
"That puts pressure on the players, [and] pressure on the coaches to get it right over the next couple of weeks."
Overall, the coaches clearly believed the team's performance against Italy was short of All Blacks' standard and assistant Steve Hansen summed up best when he said: "I think it's best we just flush the dunny and move on."
This year's opening internationals therefore gave Henry very little answers but his reaction suggests there will be a new edge when the 30-man Tri-Nations squad assembles in Wellington next week.
The coach's halftime tirade during the Azzurri clash, was described by several senior players as the most emotional they had seen and rookie lock Isaac Ross says it's a wake-up call for the team.
"He's a chirpy sort of guy and when he tells you off like that, you have to take it on board and go out there and perform," Ross said.
"He's a person who wants to be your friend, not your enemy, so [it was surprising]."
Ross certainly put his hand up in Christchurch but a number of other All Blacks will be sweating as Henry and his selectors take stock ahead of the Tri-Nations.
Hulking No.8, Sione Lauaki is a contender for inclusion, while Hosea Gear could also come in to add firepower out wide while Taranaki's Jason Eaton is also in the running.
Skipper Richie McCaw and veterans Rodney So'oialo and Sitiveni Sivivatu are all fit and available to play Australia on July 18.
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