World Cup the target, says red-hot rookie Ryan

NEW All Black second row James Ryan doesn’t believe the Silver Fern is being devalued by coach Graham Henry.

Traditionalists in New Zealand claim Henry has gone too far by deciding to rotate his players on the Grand Slam tour of Britain and Ireland.

But rookie Ryan, who burst onto the senior circuit after winning World Cups at under 19, university and under 21 levels, has a message for the critics: “We know what Graham is trying to do; that’s to create a situation where the squad is strong enough to win the World Cup. Everything is geared to that, everything is geared to allowing us young guys gain with that goal in mind,” he said.