‘Worst Wallabies side I’ve seen’
SIR Graham Henry has not held back on his assessment of the Wallabies, labelling them ‘‘the worst I have ever seen’’.
But while the All Blacks prepared to claim another Rugby Championship crown, by beating the Springboks in Christchurch last night, the plight of their two nearest foes is not something which excites Henry, the former All Blacks coach.
‘‘It’s a concern,’’ Henry told Newstalk ZB. ‘‘We haven’t played South Africa yet, but they got beaten by Australia and they are woeful. I think it’s probably the worst Australian team I have ever seen and that’s a real worry for the game.
‘‘You want Australia playing rugby and you want Australia playing well. And you want South Africa to be doing the same thing. But South Africa have probably lost half of their tests over the last three years.’’
Henry said in the interview that world rugby needed both teams to be competitive to create interest in the game and bring in crowds.
The All Blacks have not lost in 14 tests, and are unbeaten at home in 43 matches since 2009. Coach Steve Hansen has only tasted defeat three times since he took over from Henry after the 2011 World Cup.
That was not expected to change last night, with the All Blacks $1.04 favourites to beat the $9 Boks.
Henry told Newstalk ZB he wondered whether the All Blacks could step up another level after Richie McCaw and five other test centurions retired after the 2015 World Cup.
But they have been ‘‘phenomenal’’.
Henry also conceded he had underestimated Beauden Barrett, a player who he has never coached.
‘‘I didn’t think he would be as good as he is,’’ Henry said. ‘‘So I’ve misjudged him. I thought he was a fullback playing five-eighth.
‘‘But he’s been fabulous. I can’t believe how good he is.
‘‘I think Wayne Smith has put a lot of time into him, one on one, ballwork. Wayne and Ian Foster have worked well with him. Both ex No.10s, both played a lot a lot of rugby. The All Blacks’ skill level is immense and and he’s one of the guys who has really stepped up in that area.
‘‘He just looks fabulous and aren’t we lucky? Beauden Barrett and Aaron Cruden are the two best fiveeighths playing the game right now in the world.’’