All Blacks are underdogs: Henry

[NewsBot]

All Blacks are underdogs: Henry

All Blacks coach Graham Henry is wary of a resurgent Australia ahead of their opening Test in the Tri-Nations series and rates his side as underdogs after unconvincing wins over Ireland and Argentina.

[The Lone Hydrangea]

All Blacks are underdogs: Henry

All Blacks coach Graham Henry is wary of a resurgent Australia ahead of their opening Test in the Tri-Nations series and rates his side as underdogs after unconvincing wins over Ireland and Argentina.

Yep for sure Mr Henry:- now lets see,IRB rankings 1 v 4, game to be played at Jade Stadium Christchurch in the middle of winter.Lets hope the dill is right and we belt them.

[Flamethrower]

Bloody Kiwis. Beat us to the underdog tag.

[Burgs]

Nah, they are just plain dogs...
Nice try by Henry, shame for him 99% of the Rugby World know he's full of it!

[Burgs]

Connolly brings out underdog card

Ben Kimber, SMH
Wednesday, June 28, 2006

WITH the announcement of the All Blacks Tri Nations squad yesterday, Wallabies coach John Connolly finally has a large enough opponent in his sights to justify his preferred modus operandi ahead of big games.

For a coach who, during his long stint as Queensland mentor, revelled in using the "little brother" tag to fire up his players, the first three Test matches for the Wallabies were difficult ground in which to plant the seeds of underdog status.

As England trotted out a list of unrecognisable names, Connolly talked up the depth of English rugby and its ability to field at least three sides, only to see their second XV put up less than sterling resistance in two Tests.

Ireland arrived with almost a full-strength side, but once again the hype was less than the final result as Australia started and finished deserved favourites.

Then yesterday, All Blacks coach Graham Henry finalised the 30 players who will contest the Tri Nations, a squad whittled down from almost three full teams which have been in action in recent weeks, with the major surprise being the recall of former captain Reuben Thorne.

And with the talent at hand in Henry's first-choice squad, the Wallabies can now correctly be termed underdogs.

As Queensland coach, Connolly spent years somehow projecting a front of being honest battlers against the might of NSW, despite scoring many victories, and yesterday the positioning started at the national level as the opening encounter against the All Blacks in Christchurch next week looms large.

Former New Zealand Test winger Stu Wilson this week told the Herald that New Zealand could struggle with initial combinations as their best side is selected for the first time, a claim Connolly dismissed quickly yesterday.

"They could pick two sides, they're very strong, and [combinations] aren't a problem for them," he said. "They could pick a line-up with something like a front row with Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu and Carl Hayman, then Ali Williams in there [in the second row], he was around last year. The whole team they pick will all have had plenty of Tests."

And, while that assessment is fair, echoing his days with the Reds when, before matches against the Waratahs, he would declare, "I just hope my brave lads don't embarrass themselves", Connolly then wound it up a notch.

"They're odds-on favourites for the World Cup, and hopefully by the end of next year, the rest of the world can compete," he said.

"At the moment, they've walloped everyone fairly easily. Their second teams go to Europe and still win. They trounced everyone in the Tri Nations last year. They're the best team in the world by a fair bit."

Australia were beaten, but not trounced, last year in two Tests, going down 30-13 in Sydney and 34-24 in Auckland, and preparing for the first encounter this year, Connolly has invited an extended squad into camp in Coffs Harbour.

Connolly will be able to run fully opposed sessions this week if required with players including prop Benn Robinson, second-rowers Al Kanaar, Adam Wallace-Harrison and Al Campbell and backs Sam Norton-Knight and Adam Ashley-Cooper in camp, along with schoolboy five-eighth Kurtley Beale.

Kanaar may yet be unavailable though as he heads for scans on an injured ankle this week.

And, while Scott Fava is also a member of the Wallabies squad, he could be returning to Sydney and his former club Eastwood this weekend as Connolly seeks game time for the No.8 contender.

Fava cut his ties with Eastwood when joining the Western Force, but without a club connection he has not played a match in more than six weeks since the Perth Super 14 team's season ended.

Another Wallabies back-rower, Sydney University's David Lyons, has also been absent from the field after struggling with a back injury, a problem that is believed to have flared up again and has forced the Waratahs No.8 into another month of recuperation.

[Darren]

And, while Scott Fava is also a member of the Wallabies squad, he could be returning to Sydney and his former club Eastwood this weekend as Connolly seeks game time for the No.8 contender.

Interesting - wonder if there will be an more on the club rugby issue ...

[Burgs]

Probably doesn't help having the Wallaby Squad based in NSW and then when they come to Perth there is a general bye for the Test

[Sagerian]

Bloody Kiwis. Beat us to the underdog tag.

Yeah, using the underdog card is an Aussie ploy, they can't use it.

[Burgs]

Connolly laughs off Henry claims


Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Wallabies coach John Connolly has laughed off claims by All Black counterpart Graham Henry that Australia is in better shape for next week's Tri-Nations opener in Christchurch.

In an early play for underdog status, Henry said the All Blacks were off the pace the Wallabies had set in three big Test victories under Connolly.

While Australia thumped England 34-3 and 43-18 before running over the top of Ireland 37-15, Henry experimented with his personnel as they struggled to beat the Irish and Argentina.

"I think we're a bit behind Australia at the moment," said Henry after naming his 30-man Tri-Nations squad in Auckland.

"It's a big week for us next week. It's going to be a huge test match at Jade Stadium. It's going to be a boomer."

Henry put Australia's early-season resurgence down to the influence of Connolly who has added far more size and muscle to the Wallabies pack after eight losses from their last nine Tests of 2005.

But the former Queensland coach, an old sparring partner of Henry's when the Kiwi mentor was in charge of the Auckland Blues during the 1990s, took little note of the praise and typically played up his Bledisloe Cup rival.

"They're the best team in the world by a mile," Connolly told AAP.

"They're odds-on favourites to win the World Cup.

"They've got all the positions covered two or three times.

"They've got a magnificent coaching staff with magnificent players, including arguably four or five of the best players in the world in their positions."

Connolly named five-eighth Dan Carter, flanker Richie McCaw, hooker Keven Mealamu and lock Chris Jack as World XV players and praised the Tri-Nations champions combinations out wide.

"And (Jerry) Collins and (Rodney) So'oialo murdered us at the breakdown last year," he said.

Henry's squad contained one major surprise today with much-maligned former skipper Reuben Thorne selected when it appeared his Test career was over after paying the price for NZ's 2003 World Cup meltdown.

Flanker-lock Thorne, who missed selection in an initial 40-man squad this year, came at the expense of Blues pair Troy Flavell and Jerome Kaino who failed to make an impact in their starting opportunities.

Criticised for not playing his best 15 together before the Tri-Nations, Henry reiterated his top players needed time for recovery and reconditioning after a long Super 14.

"We made the difficult decision hoping it wouldn't come back to bite us on the backside," he said.

Connolly denied the rotating had put New Zealand, who also alternated with two different teams in last year's Grand Slam tour of the United Kingdom, at a disadvantage.

"They've just got so many good players that play together," he said, contrasting it with his own forward pack which is set to include at least two rookies.

"There will be no new caps. The team they will pick is all experienced rugby players.

"We've still got many young players who aren't very experienced as a team. That's important to realise, it takes time to build a team and the ABs have got the jump there."

The Wallabies will get a good idea tomorrow whether barnstorming 130kg prop Rodney Blake can recover from an ankle injury in time for the July 8 Test.

NSW reinforcement Al Kanaar won't join Connolly's extended squad in camp at Coffs Harbour due to an ankle problem which has seen Brumbies forward Adam Wallace-Harrison called in.

[rick boyd]

It's on again -- the unseemly scramble to gain the underdog status. Connolly must be spitting chips that the Irish coach and captain gave his side a 21 gun salute before departure and rated them as front runners for the coming tri-nations series. Just what the Wallabies didn't need -- extra motivation for the Kiwis.

But looking at the current evidence (and forgetting last season, which is ancient history), Australia does seem to have earned pole position before the start of the tri-nations. What that is worth in real terms, remains to be seen.

Australia has looked a lot more comfortable, confident and polished in its three outings against England and Ireland than the two mix-n-match All Black teams have in their early season matches. The Wallaby forwards have held their own, although the amount of ball they turned over against the Irish must be a concern with Richie McCaw and Jerry Collins looming on the horizon. But the backs are the matching tie and handkerchief. Gregan is back to near his best, Larkham remains in a class of his own, Rogers is improving and Giteau is still to return, Mortlock is the world's best centre by some margin, and Gerrard, Tuquiri and Latham are all playing top class rugby.

The All Blacks, by contrast, have played some very ordinary rugby. Their scrums are good but their lineouts are a shambles. Their error rate has been phenomenal and there remains a big hole in midfield where some big Samoan Kiwi with dreadlocks used to be.

On the other side of the coin, we have yet to see the All Blacks' first string team in operation as one complete unit, and two of three All Blacks' games were played in atrocious weather, do it's probably a bit early to start clearing a space in the trophy cabinet for the Bledisloe Cup just yet.

But surely no one would be calling the All Blacks favourites at this stage. Their play just does not warrant it. And if it's a bit early to be giving Australia the nod, they have more claim to it than New Zealand on current evidence.

[The Lone Hydrangea]

Im not with you, on this one Rick.

[rick boyd]

Im not with you, on this one Rick.

Well that's fine, Kemo Sabe, but what's your reasoning?

[Happy]

c'mon Rick ... the All Blacks played a fresh Ireland side and an aggresive Argentina side ... the Wallabies have played a tired Ireland side and a "we're here for the surfing" English side.

Jokes aside - NZ is in a much better position of knowledge about their teams than we are right now!

[rick boyd]

c'mon Rick ... the All Blacks played a fresh Ireland side and an aggresive Argentina side ... the Wallabies have played a tired Ireland side and a "we're here for the surfing" English side.

Jokes aside - NZ is in a much better position of knowledge about their teams than we are right now!

OK, that's fair enough, but that's all based on supposition, even if it may turn out to be entirely correct. It's basing predictions for the tri-nations on what didn't happen, rather than what did happen, if you see what I mean.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if the All Blacks played like dogs in at least a couple of the tri-nations games this year, judging by the amount of unforced errors they have produced so far this year.

Granted, the Wallabies haven't come under much pressure so far.

Anyway, we'll see. May the best team win -- and preferably not by injury time penalty kicks.