please click and read what follows.
thanks for your understanding,
Mary*L
Saturday, August 30, 2008
McCaw in doubt for Samoa test
By JIM KAYES, The Dominion Post
Saturday, 30 August 2008
Richie McCaw remains a dodgy prospect for Wednesday's test against Samoa but should be okay for the Tri-Nations "final" against Australia in Brisbane a week later.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry talked to his captain on Thursday and said yesterday he was only a 50-50
chance to play in the first test at New Plymouth's Yarrow Stadium.McCaw bruised his ribs in the 19-0 win against South Africa in Cape Town on August 16 and Henry said he was still a bit tender.
"He is keen to play [against Samoa] but we will know how bad he is next week. At the moment he's 50-50 and we won't risk him if he isn't right - we won't risk anybody who is questionable."
Already out are fullback Leon MacDonald, who continues to have issues with concussion, and halfback Andy Ellis, whose ongoing rib injury means Piri Weepu will remain with the All Blacks.
But he is unlikely to be used at first five-eighth in a test despite playing there for Wellington last week and again today against Bay of Plenty.
However, Henry was thrilled with how Weepu had played when he came on for the final 27 minutes against South Africa at Newlands and felt playing at pivot would only enhance his game.
"It will be good for him to get a feel for what is happening outside halfback. It will help with his vision and his play. Being captain and playing at 10 will be a good experience for him."
Wednesday's test is not expected to be a great experience for Samoa, who have a massively inexperienced side because the European clubs have not released their players for the match.
Though the scoreline is expected to be lopsided, Henry was confident the game would be worthwhile.
"The test is part of our preparation for the match in Brisbane, which is now the final of the Tri-Nations - it's winner takes all. So it's an important part of our preparation and important for the guys to play together again because four weeks is a long time between tests. The guys need to get a feel for the rhythm and physicality of a test match and Samoa will give us that."
New promotional video endorsing sevens rugby for the 2016 Olympics
link sent by Rudy (article on the Holiday blog)
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
For the following weeks :
My video message :
http://marylanceron.skyrock.com/1951232023-mes-vacances-english-version.html
The "holiday-blog" :
http://marylanceron.skyrock.com/1951232023-mes-vacances-english-version.html
The "holiday-blog" :
With FSS, you are in good hands :)
Wishing the ABs all the best for the end of the tournament,
Bye,
Mary*L
All Blacks team announced
All Blacks coach Graham Henry and his assistant coaches Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen have announced the team to play South Africa in Cape Town on Saturday August 16 at Newlands:
The starting XV is unchanged from the All Blacks last Tri Nations Test against Australia in Auckland while Isaia Toeava is the only change to the reserves.
"Playing the Springboks in South Africa might be the biggest challenge in world rugby at the moment," said All Blacks coach Graham Henry on announcing the side.
The Cape Town match is the penultimate Tri Nations match for the All Blacks with the final fixture against Australia in Brisbane in September.
1. Tony Woodcock 2. Andrew Hore 3. Greg Somerville 4. Brad Thorn 5. Ali Willliams 6. Jerome Kaino 7. Richie McCaw (c) 8. Rodney So'oialo 9. Jimmy Cowan 10. Dan Carter 11. Sitiveni Sivivatu 12. Ma'a Nonu 13. Conrad Smith 14. Richard Kahui 15. Mils Muliaina
Reserves:
16. Keven Mealamu 17. John Afoa 18. Anthony Boric 19. Adam Thomson 20. Piri Weepu 21. Stephen Donald 22. Isaia Toeava
Boks make five changes as All Blacks go for same team
NZPA - 13/08/2008
While the All Blacks opted for the status quo, the Springboks today made five changes to their starting 15 for a Test that New Zealand coach Graham Henry describes as pivotal to this year's Philips Tri Nations title.
Among the quintet coming into South Africa's run-on side is their most capped player, fullback Percy Montgomery, who came off the bench in the 63-9 win over Argentina in Johannesburg last weekend, a match to celebrate former president Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday.
For Montgomery, 34, his recall at the expense of Conrad Jantjes, who drops to the reserves, means he will become the first Springbok to amass 100 caps and he will achieve the feat on his home ground. "Against New Zealand is going to make it more special," Montgomery said.
At halfback, Fourie du Preez will have his first start in the Springbok No 9 jersey since South Africa's World Cup triumph last year. His inclusion means Ricky Januarie, whose piece of individual magic carried the Springboks to a 30-28 victory the All Blacks in Dunedin last month, drops to the bench.
Winger Bryan Habana and flanker Schalk Burger, who were rested against the Pumas as a precaution, and lock Andries Bekker, replacing the injured Bakkies Botha, are the other additions. Coach Peter de Villiers said the part Montgomery played against the All Blacks at Carisbrook had been a key to the victory there, while Januarie's workload meant he needed a breather.
"You look at how many games how many games he has played and you can see the legs getting heavier and heavier," he said. "I think it is the right time now to make that change."
All Black coach Graham Henry said none of the Springbok changes was a surprise to him. Like assistant Wayne Smith, the backs coach, Henry rated du Preez as the best halfback in the world. He said the fact that Jantjes "got smashed around against Argentina" might have something to do with Montgomery's selection, but so too could the 100th cap. "There might be an emotional button there as well," he said. "He's been a great servant to South African rugby and he will probably be very motivational for the other 21 players."
The All Blacks, meanwhile, have retained the same 15 that started in the comprehensive 39-10 victory over Australia in Auckland 1-1/2 weeks ago. Henry said the main area of discussion was about the bench, where one change was made with the addition of utility back Isaia Toeava in place of Anthony Tuitavake. He said Toeava, a late call-up last week to the tour party to replace injured fullback Leon MacDonald, was playing fullback for Auckland in the Air New Zealand Cup and was also able to cover wing, centre and second five-eighth.
Henry acknowledged that repeating the level of performance the All Blacks produced against the Wallabies at Eden park would be a big challenge. Two defeats in a row and playing at home had been strong motivators to do well that night.
"There was huge pressure to perform in that game," he said. "In saying that, this is a pivotal game in the Tri Nations. South Africa is a proud rugby nation and a proud rugby team, and we're out here to do our best."
Monday, August 11, 2008
Fans delight in All Black moves
Friday, 08 August 2008
Past and present All Black stars showed fans some of their moves in Hamilton yesterday.
All Black great Wayne "Buck" Shelford joined in the fun with current All Blacks including Richie McCaw, Stephen Donald and Brendan Leonard for the MasterCard All Black Road Show.
Hundreds turned out for the road show at Waikato Stadium including Hamilton Mayor Bob Simcock, who received a signed All Black jersey to hang in the council chambers. Children were able to practise rugby skills one-on-one with their favourite stars.
All Black captain Richie McCaw had a mob of five and six-year-olds and their mothers following his every move. McCaw was pleased with the turnout.
"It's really awesome when you see these kids' faces light up," he said. "It brings back memories of when I was young and met some All Blacks. I'm happy to be in a position to give back to grassroots rugby and to meet our fans on a more personal level."
Mooloo-turned-All Black Richard Kahui had a strong following of teenage girls requesting photos with the star back.
"It's always good to give back to the fans who stand by you through thick and thin," Kahui said."These kids never stop liking us even when we lose. We get that from the older people of New Zealand. These kids are the future."
The roadshow had different rugby skill stations for the children which included lineout throwing, kicking skills and the try-scoring challenge that saw Kahui and Shelford go head to head. Shelford edged out the youngster.
One week with Richie (2)
the first is from the Mastercard Roadshow in Hamilton, 
the other one is from a Trans Tasman Business Circle Lunch. 
thank you Izzy
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Friday, August 08, 2008
Thursday, August 07, 2008
All Blacks post-match Reaction to Victory (August 3rd, 2008)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pC5B6E739E
____
Defeated Wallabies post-match Reaction
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBUbAhGohP0
That's the secret, there are 2 Richies!!!
scan sent by FSS,
published in the NZ Rugby.
Talking about FSS, check her Kapa O Pango :
Uploaded by http://www.bebo.com/watchuser/5908712864
Monday, August 04, 2008
Midi Olympique Magazine nb 101.
Midi Olympique Magazine nb 101.
link to the so called MOM article (final versioncompleted in English and in French!!!)
again, sorry about the delay
link to the so called MOM article (final versioncompleted in English and in French!!!)
again, sorry about the delay
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Richie helps return belief to All Blacks
By GRANT FOX, RugbyHeaven
Sunday, 03 August 2008
A week's a long time in international rugby. And if you ever want evidence of Richie McCaw's standing in test rugby, I offer this match as compelling proof. Richie's return seemed to infuse the All Blacks with self-belief.
A different team turned up last night. They were hurting deeply from last week, and responded in the time-honoured All Black fashion. That was the critical lesson of a convincing victory which we should be celebrating today.
You have to turn up to play.
Richie personified that last night and his return kicked off a Domino Effect that overwhelmed Australia . The All Blacks were winning the battle of the advantage line. That meant they were winning the physical collision.
They were also winning the set pieces, in particular - and to our surprise - the lineout to almost embarrassing proportions for Australia.
With greater balance in the tactical approach, superior field position and a McCaw-inspired forward juggernaut, the kicking game of Dan Carter and Mils Miliania deprived the Wallabies of the game-breaking opportunities offered in Sydney .
The effort of the forwards could be noted in the dynamic sniping performance of Jimmy Cowan. It was no coincidence his performance was prefaced by quality cleanout of the opposition and crisp delivery of ball.
Fortress Eden has done the trick again and we are now set for a thrilling second half of the Tri Nations.
Now the All Blacks head to Cape Town for a critical away assignment against the Boks on Sunday week. They must remember last night's lesson.
Turn up, and you're in it.
Captain is lucky charm
Jim Kayes at Eden Park
Sunday, 03 August 2008
The All Blacks' lucky charm has weaved his magic again, skipper Richie McCaw's return coinciding with a 29-point thumping of the Wallabies at Eden Park in Auckland last night.
The 39-10 win continued an astonishing record for McCaw that's seen him on the winning side in 56 of his 63 tests. Of the 73 All Blacks who have played more than 25 tests, McCaw is the most victorious, winning 88.8% of the time. He was out injured when the All Blacks lost to Australia last week and to the Springboks in Dunedin.
His return last night was even more spectacular given how long he has been sidelined. Mere mortals might fade in the final quarter of a test when they have been out for six weeks but McCaw seemed to get better as the test unfolded.
"The game wasn't as quick as it might have been," McCaw modestly suggested. "It was a wee bit stop-start and when you're going forward it makes it easier. But with 10 minutes to go I didn't have a lot of gas left."
While there were other heroes,notably prop Tony Woodcock and midfielder Ma'a Nonu who crossed for two tries each, McCaw's impact was considerable. The All Blacks were given a hiding at the breakdown in Sydney but McCaw effectively slowed the Wallabies' ball down last night and was a key figure on defence. His cool head ensured none of last week's madcap rugby was repeated. Coach Graham Henry said McCaw's influence as a player and a leader had been critical to the 44-point turn around from Sydney, an accolade the man himself was keen to play down.
"Everyone in the 15 out there and the guys that came on all did their part and made it pretty easy for me. When you come back from not having played for a while it would be easy to try and do everything. I just wanted to make sure I did my job first and foremost."
McCaw, who was a frustrated spectator in Sydney, said the reversal hadn't surprised him.
"I was hoping it would happenbecause it wasn't a nice feeling last week when we knew we had been out-muscled and had a performance we weren't very happy with at all. I was hoping we'd do what we needed to do and the pleasing thing was once we got ahead we didn't let them back into the game. The Wallabies are renowned for that. They hang in there and even though you are on top the score can be close. That's the great thing we kept the hammer on them."
Cold eyes and fierce hearts as ABs come from dead
By PHIL GIFFORD, Sunday Star Times
Sunday, 03 August 2008
In Auckland it was a good day for a funeral. Grey, bleak and chilly.
During the week the All Blacks had a funereal look, too, although that's not necessarily a bad thing. During the week former All Blacks commended the value of grumpiness in a build-up.
Eden Park had the potential to be the perfect place for the wake, with the south stand facing the wrecking ball, and the crowd knowing the eulogy for the coaching career of Graham Henry was just one, maybe two, defeats away.
After all, it wasn't just the media vultures who thought the All Blacks were out-coached in Sydney. So, it emerged during the week, did Wayne Smith.
Well, cancel the flowers and hold the hearse.
Compared with the wild-eyed tactics used in Sydney, the All Blacks were, as promised, astute tactically, sensible with their attacking options and clinical in execution.
Richie McCaw had so many hopes heaped on him, you feared the pressure could be too much, even for someone as talented as he is.
He showed his class by not only attacking the breakdowns with his usual ferocity and accuracy but maintaining his composure when the All Blacks were awarded a free kick after 20 minutes.
In Sydney there would probably have been a hot-headed tap and run. Last night McCaw called a scrum, the screws were turned on Australia and Tony Woodcock was able to surge to his first try.
There was cold-eyed efficiency, too, in Woodcock's second try. Ali Williams looked manic during the haka, but as he settled into his game was a tireless presence around the field, and the composure to run perfectly a lineout drill that saw him flick the ball down to a rampaging Woodcock, who powered through a huge gap.
It was a reminder that while there are several rookies in this All Blacks team, there are veterans, too. Williams, in his 53rd test, was giving the ball to a man in Woodcock who was playing his 42nd.
It was the veterans who needed to stand up last night, and to a man they did.
If Dan Carter's skill set was any greater it'd belong in the realms of science fiction, while Mils Muliaina may be our most under-rated player. In what was often a cauldron he never missed a high ball, ran with purpose and, best of all, chose the moment when safety was the best option.
The experience of Woodcock and Greg Somerville also gave the All Blacks an edge in the scrums where they spread uncertainty in the opposing pack.
Best of all for the All Blacks was that the loose forward trio were all playing in the positions they're best suited to, with the folly of left and right flankers discarded.
The change allowed Rodney So'oialo and Jerome Kaino to play in the same positions in which they played the Super 14.
Of the newcomers the most successful was halfback Jimmy Cowan, who revelled in the close quarter scrapping, putting pressure not just on his opposite Luke Burgess, but on the Wallabies ruck and maul defence.
Robbie Deans had warned that Eden Park could be ugly for the Wallabies, with a stung and angry All Blacks side defending their honour.
Whether his players fully absorbed the message was unclear but you can bet that an any alarms rung by him in the future will get nothing but complete attention.
Rampant All Blacks bounce back
By MICHAEL DONALDSON, Sunday Star Times
Sunday, 03 August 2008
So, it takes a humiliating loss to get the All Blacks really fired up. Or maybe it was the chopping block and sharp axe being wheeled into the coaches' box. Whatever ... this was more like it; an All Blacks team playing as if very future of the country depended on victory; luckily we got it, an emphatic 39-10 at Eden Park last night.
The coaches' contrition of midweek was a clever disguise. They talked about being out-coached, out-foxed by Robbie Deans. But really, the theme of the week must have been "fire up, hit hard". In short, sport's most over-used word: passion.
The evidence was there at the start with the "Kapa O Pango" performed back on home soil for the first time since the equivalent fixture last year. The throat-slitting gesture has long since been modified but this haka is a signal the All Blacks mean business. It's their personal signature of intent and rarely do they play badly once they've performed this challenge. After all, at this level of rugby where skill levels are so even, fitness so high, the differences come in tactical shrewdness and venom.
The ramped up physicality allowed the All Blacks to force a succession of turnovers at ruck and maul that had Australia on the back foot more often than they'd been in Sydney. Harried, they made technical errors that hadn't previously been seen. One, a failed lineout throw 8m from their line, led the first of two Tony Woodcock tries.In the vital tone-setting exchanges, the role of the returning captains, Richie McCaw and Stirling Mortlock, was going to be vital and it was apparent that McCaw's longer spell on the sidelines (he'd been out for the first three Tri Nations test while Mortlock had missed just one) resulted in a greater desire to make a mark.
Yes, Mortlock set up the Wallabies first with one of his typical you-can't-tackle-me bursts but overall McCaw was the dominant general.
There was tactical tightening too, with Daniel Carter having the obvious upper hand over Matt Giteau, continually making the right choices, if not always executing perfectly. He kicked and kicked and kicked. One out of three tended to be what you'd cruelly describe as the useless. The rest of them were sublime and it was his long-raking effort that forced Australia to concede a defensive lineout which, via a move that could have designed by the CIA, led to Woodcock's second try.
Now, normally Australian coach Robbie Deans is genius at reworking things that are going wrong. So often in his Crusaders days, his teams would transform things in the second half.
Not this time. In fact, things got worse as the normally efficient and rigorous Wallabies defence was left floundering as the All Blacks made a try out of a series of bad passes and hurried shuffling of the pill until it ended in the hands of Ma'a Nonu. How bad had the Australian defence become? Well, they fell for a Nonu dummy as the All Blacks second five scored the third try. His second for the bonus point was almost wrecked, but that's Nonu for you.
All this means breathing space for the contrite leaders. Wayne Smith admitted to being outfoxed in the backs department last week but his crew made sure there were very few errors this week, mainly by going back to an old-fashioned 10-man game, Carter mixing his kicking to apply pressure that way.
Steve Hansen, in charge of the forwards, earned his keep by reinvigorating the lineout. It's not often New Zealand's way to attack the opposition lineout but last night the All Blacks were on the offensive, forcing errors, bad decisions and general mayhem which all added to the disarray that had been the All Blacks' domain last week.
And Graham Henry. It's extreme to say that somewhere on his laptop there might have been a resignation letter but certainly his position would have become unbearably hard to defend had he overseen a third consecutive loss; something the ABs haven't suffered for a a decade.
But not only did the head coach get the tone right but as defensive coach he oversaw a much tighter effort. Generally, the breaks which had decimated the All Blacks were eliminated and the defence became a form of attack with vigorous kick-chase, Rambo-esqueaggressiveness at the breakdown and a scrambling that had the Wallabies found difficult to combat.
This win could take on huge psychological importance, not just ahead of the remaining Tri Nations games but also for the world cup.
In the Tri Nations, it keeps the All Blacks alive, so much so a win in South Africa in two weeks means it's back to square one for everybody.
But it was a win for the long-term future, too. When Deans got the Wallabies job there was plenty of talk he'd be hoisting the Webb Ellis trophy at this venue in 2011.
But to do that, for any team to do that, they'll have to start beating the All Blacks at what has become a rugby Fort Knox over the past 14 years.
Day of reckoning for ABs
By RICHARD KNOWLER, The Press
Saturday, 02 August 2008
The wild weather that has roared its way across the country may well be nature's way of reflecting the angry mood in the All Blacks camp this week. No mistake, these are testing times for our national rugby team.
Two consecutive losses have done little to quell many New Zealanders' suspicions about Graham Henry's reappointment as the All Blacks coach.
Only a win in tonight's Bledisloe Cup match at Eden Park will allow the New Zealand Rugby Union high priests to breathe a little easier.Forget the babble from the rugby romantics who want to see a free-flowing game, peppered with sweeping backline movements. Henry just needs to deliver a victory against the Wallabies. We'll take it any way we can get it.
Skipper Richie McCaw said the tension among the players had reached a new level this week.
"There's definitely been an added edge, I suppose. Guys are niggly at training and stuff like that," he said."That shows there's a bit of an edge there, we just have to make sure we use that. We have to be smart about the way we play and also in the physical side of things and the aggression is what we are after."
The pressure in the All Blacks camp this week must be rising to extraordinary levels as they aim to maintain their grasp on the Bledisloe Cup and prevent an Australian win in Auckland for first time in 22 years.
This has been no ordinary week; some of the admissions from Henry and his assistants, Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen, have been startling.
Henry admitted they got the tactics wrong in their 19-34 loss to the Wallabies in Sydney last week, the ever-honest Smith said "I was out-coached and I will be out-coached again" and Hansen took the unusual tangent of noting the reason Australians are so good at grabbing the high ball is because most of their kids were brought up playing Aussie Rules.
Then there was the explanation that they were still grappling with the intricacies of the Experimental Law Variations.
Injuries to halfbacks Jimmy Cowan and Andy Ellis and hooker Andrew Hore disrupted preparations and earlier in the week Henry was on edge about McCaw's chances of starting.
Yesterday it was revealed Cowan would start at No.9, with the re-called Piri Weepu in the reserves, and Hore would return to rake.
The trump card is the return of the mighty McCaw, who has been declared fit after six weeks on the sideline with an ankle injury. His inspirational follow-me style and his presence will bolster his team-mates' confidence and ensure the Wallabies have plenty more to worry about at the crucial breakdown, even with dual fetchers in George Smith and Phil Waugh.
"The breakdown is vitally important and I think that is where we perhaps came second la
st week," McCaw said."How you get to function as a loose forward often depends on what happens in front of you. A big way of combating them is to not allow them to get a free go like that."Henry will demand that his troops, namely first five-eighths Dan Carter, employ a more intelligent kicking game than was witnessed in Sydney, that they be more urgent in the kick-chase, their handling improves and are more ruthless in their tackles.
The selection of Richard Kahui in the unfamiliar position of wing adds another competent kicker to the backline, but it is at second-five where there are concerns.
Ma'a Nonu's handling should improve after letting him down in Sydney, but it is his kicking game and the ability to relieve some of the pressure on Carter we need to see.
The return of skipper Stirling Mortlock at centre is a massive boost for the Wallabies but it will, again, be the forward exchanges where this result will probably be determined. It will be interesting to see if the All Blacks are prepared to back their lineout more as they ratchet up their kicking game.
Last week they were reluctant to kick the ball out, offering themselves just five opportunities to compete against the throws to Wallabies locks Nathan Sharpe and James Horwill.
The 46,500-capacity ground, which will undergo major reconstruction after the test as part of the 2011 World Cup preparations, is a sell-out.
New Zealanders will hope the All Blacks do a similar demolition job on the Wallabies.
Richie chat
if the link doesn't work, please tell me :)
- indications by Izzy (email sent on friday 1st) -
Richie chatting to the media yesterday. At the moment his chat is at the top of page 3 - 31/7/08 and goes for 4.38mins (time 6.17.00)
McCaw ahead of All Blacks return
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw talks with the media about his fitness and the teams preparations for Saturday nights crucial second Bledisloe Cup test against Australia in Auckland.
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/audiofeaturesinterviews.asp?menu=2&menuitem=2&startitem=30
Hope the link works okay, you may just have to search for it a little. As they add new chats/interviews to the site, the old ones moves down the list.
merci
ps : if someone can get the wmv. file, please email it to me thanx
Friday, August 01, 2008
Be agressive, Richie tells his troops
By DUNCAN JOHNSTONE, RugbyHeaven
Friday, 01 August 2008
While coach Graham Henry has been changing tactics and dreaming up new ways to stop the rot of a two-match losing streak, All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has offered a more simplistic theory to beating the Wallabies on Saturday night: be smart, physical and aggressive.As the end to a dramatic week approached, one where the All Blacks coaches continue to admit that they have had to seriously review and overhaul their methods for perhaps the first time in about four years, McCaw said that ultimately it came down to the players executing the revised plans at Eden Park.
Those plans had been seriously tweaked to accommodate the ELVs and the crafty mind of the opposition coach Robbie Deans.
But McCaw didn't believe that could be achieved without a few basics being adhered to first, the sort of stuff that was absent in last week's 19-34 shocker in Sydney.
And he felt his team were up for that challenge, sensing the players were also feeling the heat - as they should.
"There has definitely been added edge I suppose. The guys have been a bit niggly at training and that always shows that there's an edge there," said McCaw."We have just got to make sure that we use that to put together a performance. We have to be smart about the way we play but also bring the physical side of things and the aggression if we are to get what we are after."
McCaw felt the benefit of his long-awaited injection into the Tri-Nations campaign wouldn't be felt is he wasn't helped by those around him. The breakdown was absolutely crucial but the loose forwards would only come into effect if there was front-foot play from the entire pack.
They needed to go up a notch or two from Sydney in that area.
Being smart has been a collective issue this week. The coaches had failed with their analysis of the ELVs after watching them played in the Super 14. They were relying on player input to make up some shortfalls.
Henry believed they had made the necessary adjustments and now it was time to find out. He was equally sure that Deans would make some adjustments as well for this intriguing rematch that will strongly define both the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup outcomes, with the All Blacks' grip on each trophy looking shaky after a sloppy campaign to date.
Henry said the hardest part of this taxing week was deciding what to do - how to react with the correct changes.
"Once you make those decisions and get them into practice it's a good feel."
He went back to the excuse that the coaches were still feeling their way after being in command for just three games under the experimental laws.
"We have analysed the (Sydney) game and spent quite a bit of time doing that as a group of coaches and as a team. We have trained to rectify those things, trained it well and hopefully it comes through in the game," said Henry."As we have said before it's a totally different game to what we have played over the years. We are bedding down the tactics. It's not until you really face the challenge and you have come up short that you really have to think deeply about what's going on there. I watch a bit of rugby, I watch a bit of rugby on video and try to analyse the game. I spend a bit of time doing that and so do the other guys (Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen). We thought that we had done that and done that pretty well. But until you get into the heat of the battle ... I guess that's the big learning experience. So it's been a huge learning experience."
The All Blacks have had to battle changing the game plan, Auckland's fickle weather and some unnecessary injuries in the leadup to this crucial match.
Of the latest injury update, Henry confirmed that Jimmy Cowan would start at halfback and that Piri Weepu would cover the bench after Andy Ellis' rib injury had failed to come right.
In the hooking department Andrew Hore had overcome his hip problem to retain the starting jersey from Keven Mealamu.
With McCaw deemed fully fit, Adam Thomson would be the loose forward cover on the bench, meaning Daniel Braid dropped out.
Of course the biggest loss was that of the experienced fullback Leon MacDonald, necessitating Mils Muliaina returning there and Richard Kahui being given a surprise role on the right wing.
The All Blacks see the kick and chase game as crucial to this match after being seriously out-played by the Wallabies in that department in Sydney.
They want extra kicking power at the back and they have deemed Kahui's apparent skills in this area as the next best alternative to MacDonald, overlooking their wings Anthony Tuitavake and Rudi Wulf.
Henry backed Kahui's limited experience as a wing to
be sufficient for an assignment where he will mark the increasingly confident Lote Tuqiri."I talked to him before we finalised the selection about his feeling about playing on the wing because he hasn't played there for a while. He was very positive, very upbeat about the opportunity. He has the skill-set, I think he has the mentality and the composure to do a good job."
Now Henry has to hope his entire team has those key elements to match Kahui - skill, mentality and composure.
Add in McCaw's ingredients of smartness, physicality and aggressiveness and it might just be a winning recipe.
The All Blacks certainly need it to be.
NEW ZEALAND: 15 Mils Muliana, 14 Richard Kahui, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan; 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino (c), 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 John Afoa, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Adam Thomson, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Anthony Tuitavake.
AUSTRALIA: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Peter Hynes, 13 Stirling Mortlock (c), 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 George Smith, 6 Phil Waugh, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 James Horwill, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.
Reserves: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Matt Dunning, 18 Dan Vickerman, 19 Hugh McMeniman, 20 Sam Cordingley, 21 Ryan Cross, 22 Drew Mitchell.
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