Henry confident ahead of Lions tour to New Zealand

GRAHAM HENRY looked forward to next year’s British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand with understandable confidence after seeing his second-string side complete the All Blacks’ European tour with a convincing 47-19 win against the Barbarians at Twickenham.

New Zealand coach Henry retained just two players full-back Malili Muliaina and right wing Doug Howlett from the starting side that overwhelmed Six Nations champions France 45-6 last week.

However, against a Barbarians side boasting some 400 caps and nine of the Wallabies who were involved in the 21-19 win against world champions England at Twickenham seven days earlier, Henry saw his 'baby Blacks' run in seven tries to their star-studded opponents' three.

It was a flourishing finish to a tour that also featured wins against Italy and Wales with flanker Marty Holah, wing Rico Gear (twice), centres Ma'a Nonu and Casey Laulala, man-of-the-match back-row Jerome Kaino and replacement scrum-half Piri Weepu all crossing the Barbarians' line.

"We are delighted. It shows we've got a lot of depth," said Henry, coach of the Lions on their last tour, a 2-1 defeat against Australia in 2001. "The players have enjoyed the tour. They've been jumping out of their skin and I think that's a good foundation for next year."

"A huge amount of credit needs to be given to the players, the way they've performed over the last four games, particularly the last two which really put the icing on it."

Henry's assistant, Steve Hansen, like his mentor a former Wales coach, hailed the performance of 21-year-old Auckland blindside Kaino.

"He was quite impressive. His defensive game was top-draw. Obviously his running skills were capped by a great try and he's an up and coming rugby player of some note. We've just got to make sure we do the right things with him over the next couple of years."

The All Blacks go into winter hibernation until reporting back to their Super 12 clubs on January 31.

Reflecting on the tour as a whole, Henry said it was a clear case of mission accomplished.

But he rejected suggestions that New Zealand who have not won the World Cup since staging the inaugural edition back in 1987 were now the best team in the game after a year in which they also twice defeated reigning world champions England.

"We don't think that way at all. We just try to produce a rugby side that's enjoying the contest and developing as a team."

And his words were backed up by Barbarians coach Bob Dwyer, who guided Australia to the 1991 World Cup.

"They (New Zealand) were a tad lucky to beat Wales a couple of weeks ago, who we wouldn't think are the top side in the world, although they are on the rise, I don't think we need to get too excited.

"I thought the game against France was superlative but you've got to play well for a long period of time against good opposition to wear a very high-level tag like best team in the world."