All Black fans soaking up the atmosphere at the Rugby World Cup in Japan. New Zealand Herald photograph / Mark Mitchell
All Black fans soaking up the atmosphere at the Rugby World Cup in Japan. New Zealand Herald photograph / Mark Mitchell
Sir Graham Henry has fended off claims that All Black fans are arrogant.
The arrogance tag came out again from the UK as the Kieran Read-captained team prepared for the Rugby World Cup - via British journalist Stephen Jones in response to reactions in New Zealand after the All Blacks' Rugby Championship loss to the Wallabies.
Thousands of All Blacks fans will make their presence - and their confidence - felt at World Cup venues in Japan. Meanwhile 9346km away loads of All Black fans are brimming with expectation over the side's hopes, particularly after the team started the tournament with a 23-13 win against the Springboks.
Henry - who coached the All Blacks to the 2011 World Cup triumph - says arrogant was definitely the wrong word to use to describe the side's fans.
But he has also warned that followers of the side may have to temper their hopes of future world dominance due to "chinks" developing within New Zealand rugby.
Jerome Garces becomes the new Wayne Barnes. Blamed by NZ though making the correct call. Arrogance cannot absorb defeat, especially today’s thrashing, so seeks to divert blame.
In an article in investment advisor Forsyth Barr's Rugby and Markets publication, Henry said fans had to be wary of expectations given the number of teams who could win this year's event.
"We shouldn't feel we need to win every Rugby World Cup. I know that's the expectation.
"That expectation is good, but I think also the expectation is reasonably grounded. I think the New Zealand public realise there are other good sides around the world."
Henry pointed out that Ireland had beaten the All Blacks twice out of the past three times they had played.
World Cup-winning coach Sir Graham Henry says he has fears for the All Blacks' ongoing dominance of world rugby. New Zealand Herald photograph / Michael Craig
South Africa also has enjoyed a win and a draw over the All Blacks in the past two seasons.
"I think the rest of the world is catching up and New Zealand understands that," he said.
And Henry – who is helping Canada at this year's Rugby World Cup as an assistant – also said expectations would have to be shaped in coming years due to "little chinks" in New Zealand rugby's "armour".
"We're losing a lot of players overseas," he said. "Not necessarily top All Blacks, but senior guys who are very important in Super Rugby.
"I think that's slowly decreasing our potency. So I think there're some little chinks in our armour. I don't think there's much we can do about that, because we haven't got the financial resources to retain those players."
Henry said he was adamant New Zealand Rugby shouldn't follow the path of many of their main rivals in allowing off-shore players to be eligible for the All Blacks.
Instead he believed our rugby bosses should instead do all they could to "broaden the base" of the game here.
"The base is becoming brittle," he said.
"What I mean by that is we haven't got the same number of players playing the game as we did a few years ago."
Initiatives he would back to safeguard the New Zealand's place at the top of world rugby include encouraging lighter players to remain in the game by putting more resources into the under-85kg grade.
That included encouraging their retention in the game by forming an amateur representative under-85kg grade, as well as an international weight-grade team.
"These players can't compete with the bigger guys, but they are extremely skilful and talented," Henry said.
"You have to keep people in the game and give them a pathway to play at higher levels and tour, and the opportunity to fulfil their ambitions as a footballer. At the moment they are increasingly giving the game away at a relatively young age."
