All Blacks ban photographer who shot team tactics

New Zealand have banned the photographer who took a shot of a sheet of team tactics being held by coach Graham Henry at training from their remaining sessions.

The picture, which appeared in several Australian newspapers yesterday, showed a series of back-line moves that the All Blacks hoped to use to target Matt Giteau and James O’Connor during Saturday’s eagerly anticipated Bledisloe Cup clash against the Wallabies in Melbourne.

All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen said the photographer, who was in fact from New Zealand, had betrayed the team’s trust but Australia winger O’Connor was keen to play down the furore today.

The 20-year-old, who has enjoyed an impressive international season to date admitted he had attempted to look at the image.

“I actually saw it a little bit on twitter so I had a look, you couldn’t zoom in close enough though,” he said.

One of the moves shown was designed to allow New Zealand winger Joe Rokocoko a one-on-one opportunity against the youngster, but O’Connor said he was unaware of that plan.

He said: “I’m more focused on our team’s preparation and my preparation leading into the game.

“That’s the first I’ve heard about it so thanks for the heads up.

“I’ve been watching him (Rokocoko) since I was a junior player and he’s definitely got some great talent and good speed and good footwork as well so I’m definitely looking forward to this challenge.

“I haven’t had too much experience marking up on Joe, I’m sort of new to the wing but I’m welcoming it (the challenge) and I’m looking forward to it.

“Mostly it’s all about my preparation. Obviously in the back of my mind I know I’m playing a great Test winger and I guess that makes you get up even more for the game.”

O’Connor, who has featured almost exclusively at full-back in his previous 18 Tests, added of his positional switch: “The way I play at 15 I’m playing pretty similar now that I’m playing wing. I’m just getting involved and running around. I enjoyed it last week and I think that was one of my favourite games I’ve played this year.”

Meanwhile, O’Connor doesn’t expect the slippery Etihad Stadium surface to have a major bearing on the match. Teams in the AFL had threatened to boycott games at the stadium over the state of the pitch.

But O’Connor said: “I don’t think it (the surface) will play too much of a role but we will be wearing tags (metal studs) and I assume the All Blacks will as well.

“I know personally I’ll be wearing long tags (studs).”

The Wallabies will train at the ground on Friday while the All Blacks have opted not to hold their captain’s run at Etihad, preferring to visit the stadium on Thursday afternoon as a squad.

However, fly-half Dan Carter and the All Blacks’ general play kickers will complete a separate session on the eve of the match.