Henry talks up under-strength Samoa
Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:02
No easy passage: NZ coach Graham Henry
Few are expecting Samoa to seriously challenge the All Blacks in their one-off Test in New Plymouth Wednesday but New Zealand coach Graham Henry is sure the visitors will lack nothing in passion.
Henry admitted Tuesday he knew little about the All Blacks opponents, with the late scheduling of the match meaning Samoa's overseas-based stars are absent.
"But we do know they'll play with a huge amount of heart because they always do," Henry said.
He also said that the Test was vital for his players ahead of the Tri-Nations series decider against the Wallabies on September 13 in Brisbane.
Without the Samoan clash, the All Blacks would have had a four-week gap after their 19-0 win over South Africa in mid-August.
"It's just too long a gap between games, we'd be underdone. I'd think we'd suffer considerably in our performance if we didn't have the game," Henry said.
"As long as they get into the rhythm of playing and the physicality of playing, and play some rugby with some high energy and some speed in the game.
"We've set realistic goals, important goals. This game may be a big challenge to some guys to get themselves up and play on the edge," he added.
The All Blacks will be without three players who started against South Africa.
Captain Richie McCaw is nursing a rib injury and wing Sitiveni Sivivatu and lock Brad Thorne are also on the injured list, although all three are expected to be fit for the Wallabies Test.
McCaw's absence allows Rodney So'oialo to take over the captaincy in his 50th Test and against the country of his birth.
"It's going to be huge really. To get the honour of captaining the All Blacks, you don't get that honour very often," So'oialo said.
"And to captain them against the team from where you were born is an even bigger honour."
So'oialo's brother Steven plays halfback for Samoa but was unable to get clearance from his European club for the match.
The teams last played in 2001 when the All Blacks won 50-6.
Prop Greg Somerville is the only current All Black to have played in that game, while flanker Semo Sititi is the only Samoan to have played seven years ago.
Somerville, a 30-year-old veteran of 63 Tests, will be playing his final home match for the All Blacks before taking up a two-and-a-half year contract with Gloucester in England at the start of next year.
AFP
