Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Injury free All Blacks in Dublin

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_6509232,00.html
15th November 2010

New Zealand's quest for another Grand Slam continues to gather momentum as they landed in Ireland reporting a clean bill of health.
The weekend brought only good news for the Kiwis as they thundered past Scotland after wrapping up their off-field judicial dramas.

"It was pleasing to come through with a clean slate," smiled Head Coach Graham Henry.

The New Zealand are not expected to make many changes to their side, in contrast to tours of previous years when 'rotation' was the policy.

"We needed to build the team. We need to build the rugby game we're playing and you can't build the rugby game if you're going to make 10 changes," Henry told NZPA
"It's a matter of getting that balance right. There will be changes, but how many do we make? Do we need to recognise performance by individuals? That's the discussion we will have, it is delicate."

Top of the list of discussion for the All Black selectors will be the midfield and back row where Sonny Bill Williams and Liam Messam strong performance's at Murrayfield will provide food fro thought.
Regardless of who is named, Henry expected the side to maintain the high standards belatedly set against the Scots after the Bledisloe loss and a mixed, though successful, performance against England.

"We played with some physicality which was great," he said.
"The body clocks are right. We had two time zone changes from Hong Kong to London, it's not an excuse but you're not a hundred after that.
"We were just a little off the pace (in London)"

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