Henry Predicts Wallabies Will Punch Above Their Weight

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday July 21, 2007

Greg Growden

AUCKLAND: All Blacks coach Graham Henry will never underestimate the Wallabies. Why? It has a lot to do with the almost unbeatable Australian cricket team.

Henry took yesterday's media conference at Eden Park as an opportunity to wax lyrical about Australia, and explain why many of its sporting teams - particularly the Wallabies - constantly punch above their weight. He says it's all about the Australian mindset.

That's why the Kiwi coach is treating tonight's Bledisloe Cup decider as anything but a foregone conclusion - even though the All Blacks boast an unbeaten run of 17 Tests at Eden Park, dating from 1994. Australia haven't won there since 1986.

"Australians have a lot of inner confidence in their own abilities as athletes. That epitomises Australian sports-people," Henry said. "I personally have a lot of respect for the Australian cricket team. I like their attitude, the way they play the game, and the way they take the game to the opposition.

"I watched the Australian netball team play New Zealand the other night, and I was very impressed with the tempo they played, their skill level, their confidence in themselves, and their ability to combine as a group of people.

"They are the best sporting nation in the world. I don't say that lightly. I think that is correct. And we as a small nation like to compete, and we do pretty well."

Henry, who spent several years coaching in the northern hemisphere, has often said the reason Australians and New Zealanders excel on the world sporting stage, despite small populations, is because of climates that encourage youngsters to play outdoors. As well, strong junior sports structures in both countries provide the incentive and support for anyone to be athletic.

Then there is the inter-national competitiveness that has prompted an intense trans-Tasman rivalry, which, according to Henry, will peak tonight.

"Tests don't get much bigger than this one," he said. "These are the type of Test matches that you dream of."

Wallabies five-eighth Stephen Larkham also has a dream - to prove the Wallabies have not lost the knack of winning major trophies - especially overseas, where they have not won a high-calibre Test since 2001 - and break the Eden Park hoodoo.

"This is a stepping stone to the World Cup," Larkham said. "It is important that we start getting wins away from Australia. Not only is there the fact that we haven't won in Auckland for 21 years, but also the Tri Nations and Bledisloe are up for grabs.

"We haven't been in this situation for a long time where we have the opportunity of winning both cups."

The Wallabies had a short training run at Eden Park yesterday, with the emphasis again on the back three's clearing kicks from their own half.

Meanwhile, Rodney Blake flew in yesterday as a standby for Guy Shepherdson, who has a knee injury. Shepherdson, however, is expected to play after completing yesterday's training session.

© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald

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