Rugby: Henry backs All Black scrum

NZ All Black Rugby coach Graham Henry at the release of the Independent Rugby World Cup Review ...
NZ All Black Rugby coach Graham Henry at the release of the Independent Rugby World Cup Review today. Photo from NZPA / Ross Setford.
Coach Graham Henry is refusing to buy into accusations over a cheating All Black scrum, and says this Saturday's test will be tougher than last week's.

Henry has made just two changes to his winning side from last week for this Saturday night's test at Carisbrook, bringing in prop John Afoa for Greg Somerville and lock Anthony Boric for the suspended Brad Thorn.

Uncapped Chiefs lock Kevin O'Neill moves on to the bench.

When questioned about accusations by Springboks coach Peter de Villiers of illegal All Black scrummaging, Henry said he heard the same scrummaging complaints about the All Blacks week after week"We pride ourselves on our scrummaging and we work hard on it," Henry said.

Assistant coach Steve Hansen backed Henry, saying there were complaints about the All Black scrum all the time, but they had a good scrum, and they wanted to scrum well.

Henry said an official report on the performance of the referee last week was written by All Black management, as they did after every test.

"Those are the official channels to go through and that is all we can do."

Henry said the test match would be harder than last week, which he said was extremely tough.

He expected the Springboks to play a lot better, so the All Blacks would have to improve.

Assistant coach Wayne Smith said he expected changes to the Springboks side, believing Sharks utility back Francois Steyn would start at first five-eight.

The Springboks announce their team tomorrow, and arrive in Dunedin tomorrow night.

Smith said there was a tough choice between the two halfbacks, Andy Ellis and Jimmy Cowan, with Ellis winning the vote.

Ellis has started in the past four tests.

Cowan had done well whenever he had come on, Smith said, and had shown some mental toughness with all that had gone on off the field in the past few weeks - a reference to his misconduct hearing.

But Ellis had done his homework, and worked hard on the field and off it.

Hansen said Afoa had a particularly good Super 14 season, and they wanted to have a good look at him at a higher level.

Greg Somerville had played the last two tests and was sore, and would be right with a rest to bounce back, Hansen said.

When Afoa first arrived on the scene, he struggled at scrum time but had learned a lot, especially from scrum coach Mike Cron.

Afoa (24) played club rugby in Auckland last week after injuring his knee in the test against Ireland on June 7.

Hansen described former Otago and All Black prop Carl Hayman as a "bit of a freak" scrummaging-wise, but the All Blacks were building good depth at prop.

The absence of Brad Thorn was described as a significant loss by Henry, but his replacement, Anthony Boric, was an "intelligent player" and had done everything well when he came on to replace Ali Williams in the test in Christchurch against England.

Williams trained yesterday, and Henry said Williams' ankle was more stable than at the same time last week.

He said Williams would train more this week than last, although the All Blacks had to look after him.

The MetService is predicting unsettled weather for the test match at Carisbrook on Saturday night.

MetService weather forecaster Kathleen Kozyniak, of Wellington, said the long-range forecast for Saturday night was unsettled, with showers likely.

She said the lead-up to the test would bring fine weather, with clear skies forecast for Dunedin from tomorrow until Friday.

The forecast could alter as fronts quickened up and weather patterns changed, she said.

 

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