News

Henry sees Wales as main RWC threat

December 02 2008

All Blacks coach Graham Henry, in the wake of the 2011 World Cup draw, has backed Wales to provide the biggest threat to the Tri-Nations sides' World Cup hopes.

In the recent Test window Wales fared the best against the Southern Hemisphere teams, running the Springboks close, leading New Zealand at half-time and beating Australia.

And with the make-up of the 2011 World Cup Pools now known, Henry has stated he thinks Wales provide the major threat from the Northern Hemisphere.

"It is a bit cyclic and I don't think either hemisphere can lull in a false sense of security," Henry told BBC Sport

"And I think the Welsh are playing particularly well.

"They play an expansive game and they've got good athletes across the pitch, forwards who can pass and catch and beat people.

"So I guess they're the yardstick in this part of the world at the moment."

Wales were the only Northern Hemisphere side to beat a Tri-Nations team in November, their 21-18 victory over Australia the only success.

Henry's All Blacks beat Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England on their way to a second Grand Slam in four years, and what's more impressive is that they did so without conceding a try.

In fact such was New Zealand's dominance that their only scare came when trailing Wales 9-6 at half-time in Cardiff, although they kicked on in the second half to win 29-9.

South Africa captain John Smit agreed with Henry that Wales are the most dangerous of the European nations.

And it is Smit who has the immediate worry as far as Wales are concerned, in that the two have been drawn in the same Pool, along with Fiji (who knocked Wales out of the 2007 World Cup), and more than likely Samoa.

"It's almost deja vu to 2004 when we did the draw for 2007," Smit said.

"At that stage, of the four home nations England were the toughest and we got them, and now we've got Wales who are the toughest of the four nations (in the second tier of seeds) right now.

"A lot can happen in three years but it's a pretty challenging pool."

Despite regularly being tipped as the team to beat entering World Cup years, New Zealand have failed to lift the title since the inaugural tournament - co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia - in 1987.

The 2011 competition will be back in New Zealand and Henry is confident the country will be ready to lay on a great show off the pitch as well as on it.

"There's a lot of work being done right through New Zealand to make sure it's the best time it can be as far as New Zealand is concerned," Henry said.

"I think the Lions tour in 2005 was a good indication of New Zealanders and what they can do for rugby.

"And they really enjoyed the British Lions and Irish supporters and they'll enjoy the World Cup supporters and I think it'll be a great tournament."