All Blacks dominance not healthy for sport
dubai — Former All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry fears New Zeeland’s dominance could wane interest in sport but at the same time reckons that the other countries could come back strongly in the next World Cup, which is two years away.
All Blacks are eyeing a hat trick of World Cup wins but Sir Henry thinks that they could face stiff resistance. “The All Blacks will be favourites I would imagine in 2019, along with England, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, the usual enemies will all be out there,” he said.
“The World Cup is two years away and I was pleased to see Australia and South Africa improve a little in this Rugby Championship series because
No good having one side so much better than everybody else, because that doesn’t create interest, when you are not coaching, you want competition Sir Graham Henry
I think rugby needs competition,” the octogenarian former coach said while talking to reporters on the sidelines of the Emirates Airline Rugby Long Lunch in the city.
“No good having one side so much better than everybody else, because that doesn’t create interest, when you are not coaching, you want competition,” he said.
“Australia and South Africa had fallen away pretty badly in recent times and it was good to see in last two fixtures great contests and I think that’s pretty pleasing and obviously cultures of South Africa and Australia are developing and becoming stronger and stronger and I think that’s good for rugby,” he added
When asked can anyone stop New Zealand? He said: “Yeah for sure England, they are on a bit of a roll and have lost just one game since Eddie (Jones) been coach.”
“Possibly, nobody has got the prerogative to be the best in the world forever,” he said, pointing out that the All Blacks didn’t win World Cup 24 years.
He pointed out that the game was changing in recent time. “I haven’t coached in six years. And the game’s changed immensely in that time. What the All Blacks have done is been initiators in that change.”
“They didn’t score a try from their own ball initially against South Africa. Two turnovers and an intercept, whereas South Africa had to build their tries. Their ability to take advantage of opportunities is probably their x factor. And once they see the opportunity, they execute it,” he remarked.
Further pointing out at the difference between All Blacks and the other teams he said: “That’s probably the step other sides haven’t made yet. South Africa may have played the better game, but got beaten by a point. So, I don’t think the gap is too big. Which is great, it’s what rugby needs. It doesn’t need one team that’s unbeatable because that’s boring.