Ireland's tour of New ZealandConvincing some of the more arrogant New Zealand media that Ireland are not a bunch of lightweights over here for a couple of thrashings appears to be hard going for the All Blacks head coach, Graham Henry.
If Ireland's performance in the first Test has increased respect for them among some journalists, it won't be a moment too soon for Henry.
"They're a class team," commented Henry - flanked by assistant coaches Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith - at the All Blacks' team announcement yesterday ahead of Saturday's second Test, in Eden Park, for which 7,000 tickets were still unsold yesterday.
"One or two of my old mates in here gave them no chance, which I think is built on arrogance about New Zealand rugby. We expect to beat everybody by 50 points. I don't know why that is. It's an irritation from this side of the table, but you've got to give the other sides a lot of credit and the Irish have . . . some class players," added Henry, singling out Brian O'Driscoll and Paul O'Connell and going on to describe Ireland as the best team in the Northern Hemisphere.
"If you saw the French-Irish Test match, it was a bizarre contest, and I think the best team got second and could have won the Six Nations and then they would have had a clean sweep from there, and Munster are the best club side - if that's the right term - in Europe. So let's not have false impressions of the Irish team. They're a very good rugby side."
That said, Henry admitted they were taking a slightly experimental approach to these games with a view to the upcoming Tri-Nations.
"It's a bit of an international trial before we select the 30 players for the Tri-Nations," he said, before adding pointedly, "We're fairly keen to win the game as well."
Indeed, the three alterations to the All Blacks' starting XV all look designed to address the areas where they came up somewhat short last Saturday in Hamilton.
Troy Flavell, in a stunning return to Test rugby after a five-year absence, and Jerome Kaino combined to improve their lineout and physicality at the breakdown, while the introduction of outside centre Casey Laulala for Ma'a Nonu follows the latter's defensive lapse for Brian O'Driscoll's well-executed try and some iffy distribution.
The debate rages hereabouts as to whether Nonu, an astonishingly dynamic runner with ball in hand if apparently inclined to switch off in defence and not the swiftest distributor in the world, can fill the considerable shoes of the retired Tana Umaga. Most likely no one will for the time being, for only with the kind of experience Umaga acquired can anyone come close.
Henry and backs coach Smith were at pains to stress Nonu cannot be judged on one Test, but such is the competition for places here a player is not liable to get too many chances.
"It's a collective issue," said Henry in apportioning blame for O'Driscoll's try, "and the fella who scored the try is not bad, probably the best in the world. It's just pleasing, I think, from his point of view, that he can show the world that he can play the game in New Zealand.
"So a little bit of me said 'that was great, Brian O'Driscoll, it's great to see you play to your ability. You're a world-class player'.
"I think it's a collective issue defensively . . . I talked to the defence coach about it and that's what he told me," said Henry, who is, of course, the defence coach.
Nor were the All Blacks brains trust rushing to judgment on the two-opensides experiment. In highlighting how the second-half introduction of Flavell and Kaino had made a significant impact, forwards coach Hansen opined that had the substitutions been the other way around, with Greg Rawlinson and Marty Holah providing fresh legs, it might have had the same effect.
Looking ahead to Saturday, Henry readily concurred the All Blacks should be more likely to improve from the first Test.
"I hope so. We've had a week together, and they've had a large amount of time together in the Six Nations. Seven of the Munster boys played in the pack in the first Test, and the two halves, so you'd think there'd be an improvement."
Left-winger Sitiveni Sivivatu has, meanwhile, been ruled out of the All Blacks' planning for several weeks because of the need for an operation - which Henry likened to "a bit like having bits in the soup" - and has been replaced by the Crusaders' Scott Hamilton in the team to play Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday week.
Sivivatu's absence may be only temporary, but as many other modern-day All Blacks can testify, no less than having an off-day, you wouldn't want to have a limp.
Second TestTeams
IRELAND: G Murphy; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll (capt), G D'Arcy, A Trimble; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell; N Best, D Wallace, D Leamy. Replacements: R Best, B Young, M O'Driscoll, K Gleeson, I Boss, G Dempsey, AN Other.
NEW ZEALAND: M Muliaina; D Howlett, C Laulala, A Mauger, J Rokocoko; L McAlister, B Kelleher; C Dermody, K Mealamu, C Hayman; C Jack, T Flavell; J Kaino, R McCaw (capt), R So'oialo. Replacements: A Hore, N Tialata, G Rawlinson, C Newby, J Cowan, D Hill, M Nonu.
