All Blacks touch down in pursuit of Grand Slam

PREPARE for lift-off when flight NZ1 touches down at Heathrow Airport today — the All Blacks will be in town.

The Tri-Nations champions and Lions conquerors are about to embark on one of rugby's toughest assignments that, if accomplished, would complete a momentous year for coach Graham Henry and his players.

A Grand Slam tour of Britain and Ireland has not been achieved since 1984, when Andrew Slack's Wallabies saw off England (19-3), Ireland (16-9), Wales (28-9) and Scotland (37-12).

It was a stunning effort inspired by the likes of Slack, David Campese, Nick Farr-Jones, Mark Ella, Michael Lynagh and Simon Poidevin, and remains a landmark in rugby history.

The forthcoming All Blacks trip should be about whether such New Zealand stars as Dan Carter, Joe Rokocoko, Tana Umaga, Aaron Mauger, Chris Jack and Richie McCaw can emulate their rivals from across the Tasman Sea. Fat chance!

The agenda, as Henry and company boarded their flight in Auckland yesterday, has already been set. Grand Slam tour? Plenty of time for that, why not dredge up the real issue that infamous double spear tackle on Lions skipper Brian O'Driscoll in Christchurch four months ago?

And if you still are not satisfied, then there is always Gavin Henson's verbal assault on All Blacks assistant coach, former Wales supremo Steve Hansen, in his new book, a publication that has received more reviews than your average Booker Prize winner.

Lions skipper O'Driscoll was undoubtedly the victim of a malicious tackle by Umaga and All Blacks hooker Keven Mealamu that appeared to have intent written all over it. O'Driscoll suffered a dislocated shoulder and has not played since, while Umaga and Mealamu went unpunished.

The real scandal of that whole episode surrounds the fact no action was taken against them by a citing commissioner who must have been stirring his tea, rather than witnessing O'Driscoll being spectacularly and brutally up-ended.

The combined effects of the O'Driscoll fall-out, Henson falling over himself to criticise and the Lions collapsing in a heap has overshadowed what Henry's All Blacks are about playing great rugby. They did not so much beat the Lions, but maul them beyond recognition. So isn't it time to end the excuses and stop carping?

Lawrence Dallaglio clearly thinks so, judging by his comments this week.

"Everyone wants to have a say about a tour that finished months and months ago," said Dallaglio. "For me, the tour was over (because of injury) in 10 days, so it's hard to comment on what went on after those 10 days because I was sitting back here.

"Clearly, we were outplayed, out-thought and ultimately beaten 3-0, and that says it all. As a player, you have to be better than your opposite number, and from 1-15 we weren't.

"There are a lot of guys who went over on that tour with big reputations. Quite frankly, they haven't lived up to those reputations. The sensible ones are the ones who are working on their games and keeping their mouths quiet."

But it's time, surely, to file 2005 Lions business where it really belongs in the nearest dustbin and concentrate on a feast of autumn rugby.

Then again, when Umaga lifts the World Cup in 2007, you can just imagine the first question: "Now Tana, about that tackle . . ."

The All Blacks launch their four-Test trip against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday week, followed by games with Ireland, England and Scotland.