All Blacks Coach Goes With Experience Before Tri-Nations
Heading into the opening match of the Tri-Nations cup against the Springboks Saturday, New Zealand has announced they will be bringing their most experienced team ever. New Zealand will look to take back the trophy after losing it to the South African side last year.
In this tournament New Zealand Coach Graham Henry has stressed the importance of experience. His most recent affirm is his decision to bring back centre/wing player Ma’a Nonu, winger Joe Rokocoko, and centre Conrad Smith, all of whom are experienced internationals. With the addition of these three the club now contains over 650 caps split between all the players.
Henry said of his decision to favour experience: “There are a lot of young guys knocking on the door and they’ll get their opportunity in time, just as the guys who are taking the field have had to wait to get their opportunity…It’s important to play the experienced players initially and let them prove they are good enough still to be there, I’m sure they are.”
The All Blacks start the 2010 tournament against the Springboks in Auckland on July 10; they play South Africa again on July 17 in Wellington. They are then forced to wait until July 31 to play Australia in Melbourne. On August 7 they play the second of three matches against Australia at home in Christchurch, before heading to South Africa to play in Pretoria on August 28. The All Blacks then head to Sydney to finish off the tournament on September 11.
The All Blacks had a difficult time against the Springboks last season losing their three home matches. In addition the All Blacks have been criticized for bringing an old team that lacks the star power they have displayed in recent years.
When put head-to-head with a constantly improving Springboks side it could be tough for New Zealand to win the tournament. Fortunately for New Zealand the schedule works in their favour. Getting to open up at home against the Springboks could move them into first position early on. In addition they have had a great deal of success against the Wallabies in Australia in recent years, and only have to play one game in South Africa.
The fact that the rest of their away fixtures are in Australia is a blessing. Moreover, the final game of the tournament is played between the All Blacks and the Wallabies in Sydney, meaning that the All Blacks could clinch the trophy on the final day.
The All Blacks were only able to muster a second place result in 2009 after a well contested tournament. New Zealand kicked off last year’s tournament by beating Australia at home, before heading to South Africa to play two games. The All Blacks were hampered by injuries and lost both of their matches against the Springboks. They were once again able to beat Australia at home putting them in position to take the Tri-Nations cup with a victory at home in Hamilton against South Africa. Much to the dismay of the All Black fans the Springboks inched out a tight 32-29 victory.
The Tri-Nations has generally been good to the All Blacks side. They have won nine of the 14 tournaments and were the only team to win the competition after it expanded to three games against each side, until South Africa won it last year. New Zealand are also the only side to go undefeated, something they have achieved three times, first in 1996, then 1997 and finally right before expansion in 2004.
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