Henry masterplan coming to fruition

GRAHAM Henry has begun to achieve what some of the New Zealand public believed impossible.

He has moved a step closer to creating the dream squad - a squad to win the World Cup.

Henry has copped abuse for his policy of exposing younger players to international rugby with many feeling he is devaluing team selection.

But Henry, conscious of New Zealand’s failure in four successive World Cups since David Kirk first lifted the William Webb Ellis trophy in 1987, disagrees. Recent results would have done little to dampen his enthusiasm for such a strategy.

Henry has made it clear that his selection policy is only in the infancy stage.

“We started out some months ago determined to build a quality squad for two years time. I think we’re ahead of schedule.”

Nobody in Wales or Ireland would disagree with that, as a succession of quality players were rolled out in the last couple of games.

They have four world class wingers in Joe Rocokoko, Rico Gear, Doug Howlett and Sitiveni Sivivatu. Throw in their rough, tough forwards, and the mix is complete.

“That’s our aim and we are definitely on course,” admitted Henry.

“This is the best prepared team we have had in the last 20 months,” he said.

“I don’t think this result makes Ireland a bad team. I suppose they will be pretty disappointed with the performance, but I think they got us on a purple day when most things went right for us.”

Eddie O’Sullivan agreed. “I think New Zealand were outstanding; better than they probably expected to be themselves on the day.

“They had 20 set pieces to six in the first half and took advantage of that by not kicking and taking it through phase by phase.

“I reckon our tackle count in that first half was probably around the same as I would expect from a full game. These guys are big, athletic, skilful and by the end of the game we were probably a bit punch-drunk.

“When we had the ball, we posed problems for them, but I admit we did make mistakes at times, and that didn’t help us at all.

“I was disappointed we didn’t score a couple more tries because we had the opportunities, and disappointed that we conceded a couple, particularly one off a set piece near our line.

“At that stage, maybe we had shipped a bit too much physical punishment and didn’t react as we would have expected.

“There is a gulf in skill between the All Blacks and us. There is no denying that.”