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Henry, Deans: It's not personal
25/07/2008 07:35 - (SA)
Australia - The Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations rugby Test between New Zealand and Australia has become a tale of two coaches, a drama about two men acted by up to 44 players in front of 80 000 fans in one of the sport's largest theaters.
The principal protagonists are Graham Henry, 62, the All Blacks coach, and Robbie Deans, 48, his rival for the New Zealand coaching job last year and now the first foreigner to coach Australia, compelled to lead his new team against his own nation.
When the New Zealand Rugby Union favored Henry over Deans in making that appointment, setting aside Henry's involvement in New Zealand's failed World Cup campaign, they put in motion the events which have wound tension around Saturday's confrontation.
Both men have tried to play down the personal aspect of the match, dismissing the perceived rivalry as media hype and insisting their focus is on the outcome of the match and its influence on the Tri-Nations.
The uniqueness and the importance of the showdown between Deans and Henry is more than a media creation, however, and it is the personal context which makes Saturday's Test one of the most anticipated Bledisloe clashes of recent years.
Defeat will not sit lightly with either man.
Many New Zealanders already believe Deans rather than Henry should have been appointed All Blacks coach, to allow the team to move on from its worst-ever World Cup performance - a shock quarter-final exit to France.
Responsibility
With Henry, Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen still in charge, the team has carried that failure as additional weight in the first two matches of the Tri-Nations, against South Africa.
After a 19-8 win in Wellington, the 30-28 loss to the Springboks in Dunedin two weeks ago has increased pressure on Henry, who must now carry an increased share of responsibility for every defeat.
Deans has been heartily welcomed by Australians to his new role as the Wallabies first non-Australian coach, victorious in his first four Tests, but he is too astute not to be aware that that welcome could quickly cool if he begins to lose.
Deans presents an impassive front but it has been clear he has been preparing himself for this day.
"The fact that I have ended up coaching against the nation I played for, is novel," he said. "I sought the counsel of John Wright (the New Zealander who coached India's cricket team) and asked him for his insight into what it was like competing against your brother in the backyard."
Deans gave a personal context to the metaphor, saying that only a year separated himself and his brother Bruce, a fellow All Black.
"Right from the outset, I've been interested to know what my emotions would be but I had an insight the night after my appointment when there was a news item that showed some Bledisloe Cup footage," Deans said. "I felt a rush of excitement and that hasn't changed. In fact, it has probably escalated since then. I can't wait, I'm really looking forward to it."
I have to concentrate
The All Blacks coaches have made a conscious effort in the past week to play down the Deans-Henry rivalry, even to avoid using Deans' name.
"I wouldn't have a clue what's going on over the ditch," Henry said in response to a question of Deans' impact on the Wallabies. "It gives (the Test) more edge but from my point of view I have to concentrate on what I have to do.
"My mind doesn't deviate. If you start drifting away on things that don't matter in the game, that you can't control, you're not doing the job correctly."
Adding to the drama, both teams will be without their captains for the match. New Zealand is still without Richie McCaw, who has an ankle injury, and Australia without Stirling Mortlock, who failed to recover from a head knock in last weekend's 16-9 win over the Springboks.
McCaw's place will be taken by Daniel Braid, playing his first Test in five years, and Mortlock's position in the Australian midfield by rugby league convert Ryan Cross.
Lineups:
New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Anthony Tuitavake, Richard Kahui, Ma'a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Daniel Carter, Andy Ellis, Jerome Kaino, Daniel Braid, Rodney So'oialo (captain), Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Keven Mealamu, John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Sione Lauaki, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Conrad Smith.
Australia: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hynes, Ryan Cross, Berrick Barnes, Lote Tuqiri, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, George Smith (captain), Rocky Elsom, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Matt Dunning, Dan Vickerman, Phil Waugh, Sam Cordingley, Timana Tahu, Drew Mitchell.
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Rugby
Tri-Nations
