Henry issues All Blacks warning
2008-07-06 14:11
Wellington - Not content with inflicting the first defeat on South Africa since their Rugby World Cup win last year, All Blacks coach Graham Henry is demanding a better performance in the second Test next weekend.
The All Blacks 19-8 victory over the Springboks on Saturday was the product of a superior forward pack and the astute tactical kicking of flyhalf Dan Carter.
It was a victory filled with emotion for the All Blacks after losing half their squad following their World Cup flop last October.
They beat the world champions, extended their own unbeaten home run to 30, snapped the Springboks' string of 14 successive wins and their new-look forward pack outmuscled the more experienced South African eight.
All this without inspirational captain Richie McCaw who could be sidelined for six weeks with an ankle injury, yet former headmaster Henry was not completely satisfied.
"We are just pleased to come through with the win," he said.
"I think we still have a lot of work to do, I think we have a lot of improving to do, and I think South Africa will be much more competitive again next week.
"That will just give them the fire in the belly to really play to the top of their game, so I think next week is going to be a huge game."
The All Blacks have already been forced into one change from their winning side with powerful lock Brad Thorn suspended for a week after picking up Springboks' captain John Smit and dumping him on the ground.
The original charge of a dangerous tackle was softened to an act "contrary to good sportsmanship" after Sanzar (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia Rugby) judicial officer Dennis Wheelahan viewed a video of the incident on Sunday.
The high-paced Test, packed with bruising collisions, carried immense passion with the Springboks desperate to underscore their World Cup success by beating New Zealand at home.
With six members of the Cup winning forward pack on the field, the Springboks were expected to dominate up front in a match played in wet and chilly conditions.
Instead they were forced to bow to a New Zealand eight in which stand-in captain Rodney So'oialo was playing out of position and his fellow loose forwards Jerome Kaino and Adam Thompson had only six Test caps between them.
"That's as poor as we could play in the Tri Nations, we certainly can only get better from here," said Springbok captain John Smit who is in doubt for the next Test after he hurt his groin in Thorn's lifting tackle.
"We came here very purposeful and very much with the belief in ourselves that it's time to change our fortunes over here.
"But they defended well, they kicked much better than us and we certainly didn't deserve to win."
Springboks lineout kingpin Matfield admitted to being Test rusty after playing for French second division club Toulon.
"It'll probably take another two or three games before I'm 100 percent as sharp as I would like to be," he said.
All Blacks backs coach Wayne Smith said that while Carter's kicking accuracy was crucial in turning around the big Springbok forwards, it was the "massive performance" by the All Blacks pack which won them the match.
"It was a night that had to be won up front, and that's where we won it," he said.
The All Blacks led 9-8 at half-time from three penalties by Carter to a Bryan Habana try and a penalty by Butch James for South Africa.
The All Blacks stretched the lead soon after the resumption when Carter set up the break which led to a try by Jerome Kaino and the star pivot also landed a conversion and further penalty.
But any praise of Carter was quickly deflected to the forwards by the flyhalf.
"For a reasonably new side, I thought we played extremely well because it was tough conditions to attack," he said.
"It is pleasing to see we can continue to play well without key players."
- SAPA