Tri-Nations - Henry defends All Black tactics

Eurosport - Sat, 01 Aug 21:21:00 2009

New Zealand coach Graham Henry defended his team's high-risk strategy of running the ball from everywhere after losing the Durban Tri Nations Test against South Africa 31-19.

RUGBY New Zealand coach Graham Henry, pictured here on November 29, 2008, says he wants to stay on as All Blacks coach (April 29, 2009) - 0

The All Blacks' policy backfired as they turned over possession or conceded penalties, which were punished by Springbok fly-half Morne Steyn, who kicked eight and scored a try and a conversion in his Tri Nations record tally of 31 points.

"We tried to play a certain game and just didn't execute as well as we had hoped, which is a sign of the pressure we were under," Henry said.

"We had no platform from the set-pieces and it is difficult living off crumbs. We played the right way, we just didn't execute properly.

"Decision-making is the key and when you don't have a lot of ball, you try to create something with whatever you have.

"If we had nailed a couple of the opportunities we created then it could have been a different game because once you get close, it can create other opportunities.

"But it was the right style against this team, even though some of it was pretty high-risk."

South Africa top the standings after winning their first two games, but coach Peter de Villiers said the outcome of the competition was far from dead and buried.

"We've only won two games, there are still four to go. But the platform is there. Next week (against Australia in Cape Town) will be a different kettle of fish and we start again on zero."

The Springbok coach added he was fortunate to have such rich pickings at his disposal when it came to selection.

Morne Steyn was a replacement for the injured Ruan Pienaar, making his second start in his fifth Test, while centre Jean de Villiers and wing Bryan Habana played their 50th Tests and captain John Smit led the team for a world record 60th time.

"I'm blessed to have these type of players. You can't buy 60 Tests as captain in any shop and it was impossible to tell whether Morne Steyn had three caps or 30 caps," de Villiers said.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 9 of 9

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  1. Gotta agree wit hthe postings here: worst case of all­ black handling I've ever seen. (First test only, so­ far.) But still, errors occur when pressure's on.­ Rugby cannot be played fro mthe back foot.

    From Cody, on Mon 3 Aug 10:48PM

  2. how can he possibly defend his tactics surely the score­ link speaks for its self

    From liam, on Mon 3 Aug 1:07PM

  3. henry needs to be sacked he failed in the world cup and­ does not allow other players into the 1st team to try­ and get the best out of the oldies. theres nothing like­ fighting for your place in the team to get your game­ back at the highest level, and what has happened to the­ old tradition of being a all black and you had to be­ the best at your position in the world to even be­ considered. it seems the fight and passion has gone out­ of the all blacks game.

    From Leif, on Mon 3 Aug 10:12AM

  4. gilesb...

    I agree with ALOT of your points. Our­ Wingers are a disgrace, they do not look at all­ interested, havent shown any form in the past 6 months.­ They are very good when on song BUT perhaps the best­ thing is relegate them to reserves. So'iolo again­ has been poor, (although his work against Spies cut­ out) McCaw battling on his own.
    The lineout is fine­ however the throw is too shallow and slow, allowing the­ opposition to poach what is our ball.
    Nonu good player­ but offers no kicking options, allowing more pressure­ placed on Donald-who is operating on C**P ball on the­ backward foot from forwards-Perfect example of this is,­ the number of charge downs from Cowan and Donald, again­ attributed to poor blocking around the fringes, how­ many where there? 4/5?
    I can see Henry's reasoning­ to running alot of ball against The Boks, they do not­ play well on the break out, and you take guys like­ Botha,Matfield etc out of the game by limiting your­ lineouts.
    I am optomistic for the All Blacks, however­ NOT this season-Its time to re-build and allow South­ Africa to enjoy their time in the sun, everyone in New­ Zealand wants the World Cup, well you have to break a­ few eggs to make an omellete-Rebuild for the World Cup­ now-Return Messam, Develop Reid,Ross,Franks,
    Time to­ call a day on Thorn,So'iolo,Cowen,Weepu,-Tried and­ tested and missing in action on Saturday

    From Joe, on Mon 3 Aug 12:36AM

  5. Assume your team is favored to win by 7 points. Then­ you bet against your team and intentionally score less­ points than you could have in order to cover/win your­ bet.
    Tommo

    From tomusa, on Sun 2 Aug 11:54PM

  6. Assume your team is favored to win by 7 points. Then­ you bet against your team and intentionally score less­ points than you could have in order to cover/win your­ bet.

    From tomusa, on Sun 2 Aug 11:53PM

  7. Can't believe Graham Henry is till there can't­ believe they let him stay after the World cup.In the­ passed NZ have always been the top team because if a­ player didn't perform or a coach they were­ replaced.
    Time to replace Henry

    From Salamander, on Sun 2 Aug 1:19PM

  8. I can't remember in forty years an AB game as error­ strewn. Not that I've seen them all, by any­ means.

    I'm not sure what is going on with the ABs.­ They didn't guard agressively around the fringes at­ all times, sometimes not at all. Nonu was solid in­ defence and worked hard to break the SA line at all­ times, and, given any space, made many significant­ breaks for NZ and worked well with Smith and Mouilana.­ McCraw worked overtime to make up in contact and the­ scrum worked fine (as it did with the Lions) anytime­ "the beast" was under the eye of the ref. How­ this hasn't been picked up I don't understand­ as he is obviously not a technician but a thug.

    I know­ how many caps they have, but Rokocoko and Sirivatu­ played like they'd been picked up from a local­ club. Their skills were poor, their judgement worse. On­ balance I'd say their combined play lost the game.­ I can't ever remember the ABs having worse wings.­ If they were ordered to run every ball, even from­ in-goal, then Henry should be shot, not Rokocoko. And,­ at this level, a winger on the break bundled into touch­ with the ball (Sirivatu in the closing minutes)­ unforgiveable. But there was so much more from both in­ decisions that disappointed.

    SA have a good team, but­ not that great at this time. Their imagination right­ now is mediocre though their scrummaging is solid and­ line-out great.

    NZ ABs are in slump.

    Anybody know­ what point shaving is?

    From gilesb, on Sun 2 Aug 12:28AM

  9. gotta get the team right before you start plannin­ tactics henry
    stop perseverin with dead weight like­ Kaino, So'ialo, n Nonu and ring the changes, bring­ Read, Messam n Mcallister into the startin­ lineup
    theres a good lad

    From moggie2727, on Sat 1 Aug 9:39PM
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