All Blacks coach Steve Hansen admitted to having mixed feelings about seeing his old boss kitted in a Pumas tracksuit ahead of Saturday's clash with Argentina.
The presence of World Cup-winning All Blacks coach Graham Henry in the visiting coaches' box during this weekend's Rugby Championship clash will be a small but unsettling factor for a home team expected to easily extend their unbeaten start to the tournament.
Only 10 months after leading New Zealand to RWC glory at Eden Park, Henry returns as technical adviser to Argentina - resplendent in the Pumas' light blue training strip and welcomed by coach Santiago Phelan into his inner circle.
"Laughter, disappointment, there were a whole range of emotions," said Hansen, after seeing Henry publicly draped in opposition colours ahead of the Test in Wellington.
Hansen spent eight years as Henry's assistant before succeeding him after the World Cup.
"I don't think we should make this about Graham Henry, we should make this about the All Blacks and Argentina because it's a special occasion, it's the first time in the Rugby Championship that we've played them," he said.
Hansen added though that Henry's close involvement with the Pumas likely contained positive and negative elements for the All Blacks.
"Personally, you've got a split decision," he said.
"You're thinking, 'Here's a guy who has been intimate with the (All Blacks) team for a long time and hopefully he doesn't tell them everything.'
"On the other hand it's really exciting because we've moved on a bit from when he was here.
"Because he is a great student of the game, to have him prepare a side to play against you, at the end of it we'll find out whether we've got any weaknesses or not.
"So that in itself is quite exciting."
The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) contracted Henry for two years after the World Cup to work as a mentor with its high-performance coaches.
It also agreed to offer his services to Argentina to help prepare the Pumas for their first involvement in the Rugby Championship, the expanded former Tri-Nations tournament.
The NZRU envisaged that Henry's role would be less "hands on" than it has ultimately become and chief executive Steve Tew this week indicated some unease with his very close involvement.
But Tew explained that when Henry signed on with the Blues as a technical coach, he ceased to be an employee of the NZRU.
"We wouldn't have been comfortable under the contract we had with him, but he's a free agent and he can make his own calls," he said.
"We always envisaged he'd help prepare Argentina for this championship as part of the commitment we made to them coming into the (tournament).
"We wanted them to be able to put their best foot forward and we knew they had a bit of ground to make up."
Comments
Bosvark says...
I take my rugby hat off for Graham Henry. He has taken a great leap. Also thank you to the NZ public. Henry have shown what our great Doc Danie Craven have always said " you are not bigger than the game" Henry is out there making Rugby the greatest game on earth!
Posted 18:30 16th September 2012
APV1 says...
@ passtheball - "There's only one Donald and he trumps the others." Nice.
Posted 14:16 07th September 2012
passtheball says...
APV1 There's only one Donald and he trumps the others. The penalty was shaky not Beaver.
Posted 12:53 07th September 2012
APV1 says...
@ passtheball - "...he was lucky a shaky Donald penalty went over...". How very dare you discuss one of Bath's finest in such disparaging terms?! We all know that Cruden's got the 10 shirt only because NZ's 1st and 2nd choice are injured (Donald, being the first, obviously!). I even heard that this time they'd found a jersey that fit him - they just painted a white "0" on the back, next to the "1" that was already there.
@ Ramage - I must admit I had hoped of a report that they'd been seen brawling in a local boozer, but alas no. Although, who wouldn't pay good money to watch some of the coaches go toe-to-toe in a ring for a couple of rounds..?
Posted 10:45 07th September 2012
Ramage says...
I though the coach of the Pumas was Phelan,, did I miss something over the last week. I understand that Henry is employed as an adviser not the coach. So please has Henry now been elevated to the coaching position? If not, then the post from Trinuts is just another of his nonsensical rubbish posts we get from him.The Pumas will be beaten and one can not claim that because this happens that Henry is an poor coach as he is not the coach merely an adviser. Once again the Trinuts logic is missing .
@passtheball and the question then is if Deans had been made coach of NZ then would be now gloerifying as the RWC coach of the victorious coach not taking the ire of the OZ fraternity apart form the little dictator and all would be marvelling at Sir Robbie instead of sneering at Dingo. Amazing what might have been. However lets deal in facts it was Henry who was coach it was he who gained the plaudits remember Deans was with Mitchell and they blew their chance with funnily enough woeful selections in the 2023 RWC including the knifing of Christain Cullen.That is why it needs to be pointed out that the direction of the advice given to the Pumas by Henry is in the hands of their coach Phelan and the team and it is they who will decide what they can and can not do. It will take longer for any advice Henry offers to be absorbed and implemented.
Posted 08:04 07th September 2012
Tyler_Durden says...
Pocock does one thing well, admittedly very well, but until the rest of his game catches up he will remain in McCaws shadow. That is abundantly clear to anyone not sporting a pair of canary yellow specs.
My pics for the weekend, NZ by 20 (hardly controversial, I know!) and the Saffa's by 8. That Wallaby pack is not at international standard and their backs looks completely out of sorts.
Posted 05:41 07th September 2012
passtheball says...
Trinats -- I share your query with Henry - he has never had a poor team to coach. He took over a wonderful Auckland team when they had not lost a game for years. He told the appointing panel new blood was needed but when he should have lost the AB job in 2003 he told the panel that continuity was the key. He is a better politican than the coach. Gatland is more successful than Henry or Hansen for that matter with Wales. Yes he was lucky a shaky Donald penalty went over etc - no knighthood / no legend - its that close in life sometimes.
Posted 05:35 07th September 2012
Ramage says...
Don't take any notice of the heading as it is crap and just poor sub editing. We have come to expect this here on Planet Rugby. C'mon Ross pull up your socks a very poor effort.
Posted 04:46 07th September 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Pocock wouldnt make the All Blacks, he's one dimensional.
Henry is not the Argentine coach.
ABs were number 2 behind England when Henry took over.
I can only think of 5 players who were already there in 2004 who went on and won in 2011 so he pretty much built his own team. You cannot fluke an 84% winning rate, hell, Australia can't even fluke a 50% record...
Trinats, you should be on the SA page making excuses about the Reds winning the Super 15 and Australia winning against Scotland etc... I'm not sure they've heard them all yet and they may need a few warm-ups before the weekend.
Posted 01:28 07th September 2012
hayj05 says...
@Trinats2 - Sorry but it doesn't matter how talented a team is, any successful team starts with the coach. Funny how the you normally wouldn't give the AB's players any credit but because it's the only argument you can produce to diminish Henry's achievements you're willing to throw it in there. Tactics, player development etc are very important in Rugby. Notice how the individuals in his AB's sides were better players in the black jersey despite it being at a much higher level.
If you're really doubting Henry's coaching ability even though his record at international & domestic level speaks for itself. How about asking someone that actually played under him?
Instead of just doubting him because you find it hard to acknowledge the credentials of anyone from NZ.
BTW he turned around a Welsh side in limbo, took them to their first & to date only victory over SA & lead them on an 11 match winning streak to be labelled "the great redeemer" by the Welsh media. His Welsh side only started to struggle after he took on the task of trying to coach the Lions at the same time in 2001. Woodward will attest to it being almost impossible to keep up the standards of a national side while taking on the meticulous planning that is involved in a Lions tour.
Posted 00:47 07th September 2012
pagra says...
Pumas could use a bloke like Henry because their game lacks dimension. It will make for an more interesting "RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP" if he can put some fire into them.
Posted 00:08 07th September 2012
pagra says...
Pumas could use a bloke like Henry because their game lacks dimension. It will make for an more interesting "RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP" if he can put some fire into them.
Posted 00:08 07th September 2012
porridge_time says...
There is Pocock, 50f of crap then McCaw and Hooper, then come the rest.
Apart from being good over the ball Pocock offers nothing in the loose... he is a poor linkman. Making Poopcock the main tackler removes what little effectiveness he has... vastly over-rated player and soon to be usurpt by Hooper.
Posted 23:48 06th September 2012
Trinats2 says...
We'll see how good a coach Henry is ! Did he just have a good team. Pvd would have won the last tri nations ever if he had that AB side !!! Henry was lucky to have the WC at home and a ref to help him Did he take over the ABs already at No1 ?
Is he a good coach/technical adviser ? we'll find out on Saturday.
tweedledee49:
There is Pocock, 50f of crap then McCaw and Hooper, then come the rest.
Posted 22:33 06th September 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Of course Hansen will be concerned, it's his career on the line if the ABs are rolled. The rest of us shouldn't really complain, life will go on as normal whether NZ win or lose, therefore I have no problem with him trying to improve the game there.
Posted 21:17 06th September 2012
Lucasrg says...
Next stop Italy, Mr. Henry??? please!
Posted 19:45 06th September 2012
heathy says...
I agree with the comments on here in the fact that I don't see this as Hansen v Henry. Henry has finished his stint as AB coach and he did a great job IMO. The reigns have been handed over and Henry is free to ply his trade where ever he wants. It happens ALL THE TIME! However, the bigger picture has been rightly pointed out. IF he can improve other international sides and bring them up a level then isn't that good for the game in general. With respect, Argentina are nowhere near the level of the AB's. There is no threat here. Hey, they 'may' be able to pull of a one off victory and no-one is denying this but overall if they played the AB's 10 times then they would lose 8 or 9. This is all good stuff and if I was an AB I wouldn't give a stuff. Encourage it with secrets divulged and all, in order to push the AB's. This will actually be good for the AB's and this is the bigger picture. Still, it gives the PR men something to rev up about with this game. Other than this, what have they got to report?
Posted 19:04 06th September 2012
spoons says...
As a die hard All Black supported I welcolme Henry's involvement with any other international team. We must keep the faith that the NZ junior and senior rugby programmes will continue to produce the players with the skill and committment required for the NZ Rugby to remain at the forefront of the game.
The harder the All Blacks get pushed the better it will be for rugby in general.
Posted 18:11 06th September 2012
sebabustos says...
GH has explained from the beginning of his contract that he will focus on growing elite rugby in Argentina, but would not give away any secrets of his former team. I think this is the right thing to do for a professional coach, and he can add a lot of value to the UAR (Argentine Rugby Union) without any conflict of interest.
Posted 15:04 06th September 2012
tweedledee49 says...
Henry vs Hansen huh? this should be interesting as Henry is the best coach and Hansen is 2nd......................................................but.............................. Deans is the worst coach and Sharpe and Dennis can't tackle....why isnt Cummins in the starting line up....Pocock is overrated....whoa!....sorry peeps, just had a georgesmith moment there
Posted 14:46 06th September 2012