Henry: Ireland ‘possibly’ best side in Europe

ALL BLACKS coach Graham Henry has described Ireland as “possibly” the best side in Europe, following his side’s hard-earned 34-23 victory in Hamilton on Saturday.

Henry, reacting to questions about his own philosophy of rotating players in a bid to expand his 2007 World Cup squad, paid tribute to Ireland for the way they had developed over the last few years.

He admitted: “I think we caught them cold last autumn in their first game of the season, but they proved to be very capable in the Six Nations. They might well have won it, but for a disastrous first half against France,” he said.