SPORTSRITE - It could be hooray Henry - but I wouldn't put the farm on it

With Tim Eves
HAVING burdened our farming folk with the blame for global warming, you know, those farting sheep and all, the latest fad among city folk is to discuss their rural friends with a mix of envy and downright resentment.
It was far better when farmers were either broke or in the process of becoming bankrupt.
Being able to pity the gumboot set made up for living close enough to the neighbours to know which television channel they watched simply by glancing through their living room window from the comfort of the lazy-boy.
But be warned: There are many dairy farmers who are poised in their Range Rovers with clenched fists, just waiting for another townie to pass some snide remark about "white gold".
Milk might be the new black, especially when the Fonterra press release hits the headlines announcing another payout boost. But asking a cow cockie which island resort he has booked for Christmas now that he is rolling in cash, is - apparently - starting to wear a bit thin.
Ditto every sports reporter trapped in front of a keyboard about 1000km away from the All Blacks' decision makers in Wellington.
These reporters, at last count, have been asked who the next All Black coach will be about 3246 times.
Here is the answer: No idea.
Probably Robbie Deans, maybe Graham Henry.
Who would we like to coach the All Blacks? Ummmm, how about Bob Charles. At least he would teach them a bit of dignity.
Does Henry deserve the boot for the Rugby World Cup capitulation?
Probably, especially when you start unravelling all that mind-numbing detail about the All Blacks campaign.
Definitely, when you ponder the intricacies of the first, and only victorious, All Blacks Rugby World Cup in 1987. As if you needed reminding how long ago it was.
That team was unique not just for the standard of rugby they played, but also for the way an entire squad stayed unified despite the fact that three squad members never even played a game, four others had only one or two games and the rest were recognised as the best and started every match of the campaign.
No need for rotation. No egos massaged by token selection.
No danger of mutiny from disgruntled players worried their market value was plummeting every time they stayed in the grandstand.
But the contribution players such as Andy Dalton, Bruce Deans, Frano Botica, Andy Earl and Alby Anderson made to the 1987 tournament victory is still regarded as, arguably, one of the most vital components of the success.
Between them they played two games during the 1987 tournament, but afterwards they were lauded for being a huge force for success on the playing arena by their deeds on the training pitch.
Could you say the same of any group of All Blacks from this year's failure?
That is obviously a question no impartial spectator could answer accurately, because nobody impartial was allowed to watch the team do anything more serious than stretch a hamstring before trainings were "closed" for security reasons.
But from this distance it doesn't look like Henry, despite his efforts, was able to engender that same sort of atmosphere.
So from that perspective perhaps Henry's Achilles heel is revealed. Despite all the talk otherwise, his efforts to try and appease all of his players with his rotated revolution was a dud.
So before the power brokers in Wellington announce the new All Blacks coach, maybe today and probably sometime over the weekend, a quick glance at the history books might be appropriate.
If they do give Henry the heave-ho, at least the farmers will be pleased. At last the rest of us will have something else to talk about other than the price of white gold these days.
They won't be the only ones relieved either, just quietly.