Henry not willing to shoulder blame

Second Test/New Zealand selection: It was a subject he didn't want to discuss at length, but having declared the case closed, Graham Henry was reluctantly and continually brought back to Brian O'Driscoll's dislocated shoulder and the brouhaha that has followed. He kept his composure, as ever, but though frequently declaring the All Blacks' sympathy with O'Driscoll, he was clearly irritated by the questioning. 

"I'm quite frankly disappointed. Both Tana Umaga and myself mentioned Brian O'Driscoll at the press conference after the Test match, saying how disappointed we were and felt for him, and that hasn't changed. He's a top rugby player and a top person, and we have got a lot of sympathy for his position.

"And can I repeat, there's no way that All Black players go out to maim opposition; never have done as far as my memory is concerned, don't do it now, not part of team policy. And I don't know if that's the case for all teams playing international sport around the world, but we've got high standards and we emphasise those standards."

When questioned about the apparent lack of regret by Umaga, Henry reiterated his sympathy for O'Driscoll. He wasn't aware of any attempt by Umaga to contact O'Driscoll, and said those things could be done in their own time.

"The spin doctors are working overtime to try and distract attention away from the game, which I think is a bit disappointing, and that's the last comment we'll make about this situation."

But it wasn't, for he was dragged back to it. Henry, to his credit, continued to address the subject, and there were no heavy-handed interjections coming to his rescue. Nor is this a black-and-white issue, rather one that is clouded by counter-allegations of spin doctoring and a knowledge that rugby is an ultra-physical, high impact game in which no team is pristine white, within which Umaga himself is a highly respected captain of the All Blacks who with Ian Robertson, the former Scottish international, highlighted New Zealand's fund-raising drives to help 84 paraplegics whose injuries were suffered in rugby matches and prompted Henry to agree that harsher punishment should be meted out for spear tackles.

Expressing further sympathy for O'Driscoll, also on behalf of Umaga, Henry maintained the incident that led to the injury "was not intentional".

When Umaga's failure to contact O'Driscoll was again broached, Henry said, "I'm sure Tana will do it his way at some stage, whatever he wants to do. I can't talk for him."

As for the incident itself, Henry said: "It wasn't a tackle at all, in actual fact, was it? The ball was miles away. It was a clean-out at a ruck situation, I believe. I haven't looked at the incident in any real depth, to be quite frank. But (for it) to be considered a deliberate act is ridiculous and that I guess is a bit irritating for the All Black team and the captain of the team, because there's no way it was a deliberate act to hurt somebody."

Moving on, as Henry repeatedly sought to do, whereas the Lions are forced into a significant overhaul for the second Test, owing to injuries, suspension and the errors of last week, the All Blacks bucked the trend of not changing a winning team.

What's more, the three changes they've made as they seek a series-clinching victory in Wellington this Saturday look to have strengthened their hand.

If there was one disappointing feature to the All Blacks' 21-3 win last Saturday it was the number of chances they failed to finish.

Admittedly, these things are relative, and you have to make allowances for the conditions, but by bringing in Byron Kelleher they may well have sharpened up the service from scrumhalf, while the return of Mils Muliaina at fullback and the in-form Rico Gear on the wing may well hone their cutting edge. Yikes.

Justin Marshall and Leon MacDonald go to the bench, while Doug Howlett misses out altogether. Their only doubt is Carl Hayman, who is on antibiotics for an infected toe. "We are hopeful he'll be fit . . . but there are no guarantees," said Henry.

Henry spoke of it giving the team added sharpness and enthusiasm, while the changes are in keeping with a policy of looking to the future and generating more strength in depth, with more adaptable and versatile players.

"We went into the last World Cup having to play players out of position in the quarter-final and semi-final, and we don't want that to happen again."

In customary fashion, the All Blacks seem utterly unconcerned as to Lions changes in selection or personnel for the second Test. Clive Woodward certainly seems to get under people's skins out here, and Henry dismissed discussions of their possible selection by dryly commenting: "I'm sure that Clive has got some master plan in the back of his mind."

Forwards coach Steve Hansen was almost as withering. "I don't know what he's going to do, and I'm not sure he does himself just at the moment."

Henry mischievously suggested "the Welsh boys have perhaps been the frontrunners of the British Lions' touring team," adding, "I think they've led off the field as well, from my informants, which is great for Welsh rugby."

In the midst of all this, Henry conceded that the risk of complacency was a factor: "I think we need to get our feet back on the ground and build for this Test match."

15 Mils Muliaina (Auckland)

14 Rico Gear (Auckland)

13 Tana Umaga (Wellington, c)

12 Aaron Mauger (Canterbury)

11 Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato)

10 Daniel Carter (Canterbury)

9 Byron Kelleher (Waikato)

1 Tony Woodcock (N Harbour)

2 Keven Mealamu (Auckland)

3 Carl Hayman (Otago)

4 Chris Jack (Canterbury)

5 Ali Williams (Auckland)

6 Jerry Collins (Wellington)

7 Richie McCaw (Canterbury)

8 Rodney So'oialo (Wellington)

Replacements: Derren Witcombe (Auckland), Greg Somerville (Canterbury), Jono Gibbes (Waikato), Sione Lauaki (Waikato), Justin Marshall (Canterbury), Ma'a Nonu (Wellington), Leon MacDonald (Canterbury)