All Blacks feat 'may never be repeated'

Graham Henry

EDINBURGH - The All Blacks are on the cusp of achieving something in a calendar year that no rugby team may ever surpass, says coach Graham Henry.

While giving the standard respect to their Scottish opponents, whom they play in their final test of the year at Murrayfield on Sunday, Henry reflected on what his class of 2005 had achieved.

From the glorified training run that was the 91-0 win over Fiji in June, the All Blacks have won 10 and lost one, to South Africa in Cape Town, and ticked off nearly all the big achievements there are in New Zealand rugby.

"This team's not going to get this opportunity again, obviously," Henry said.

"To have a record in one year of beating the Lions three-zip, winning the Tri-Nations and holding the Bledisloe Cup, then having a Grand Slam tour of Europe against the four home nations would be astronomical really.

"It will never be repeated, mainly because you don't get the opportunity very often."

South Africa will be the next team to get the opportunity of a Lions-Grand Slam double in 2009, the next scheduled Lions tour.

But that would depend on their programming four Grand Slam tests into a packed international schedule.

The words "Grand Slam" had almost taken on swear jar proportions in the All Blacks' camp until this week, after the torrid 23-19 win over England.

The Springboks came here as Tri-Nations champions a year ago but lost two of their four matches in the Grand Slam bid.

"We haven't made a big issue of it, we learned from the Springboks' mistakes and I talked to [coach] Jake White and he said they emphasised the Grand Slam all the time and it didn't happen for them," Henry said.

"Now it's upon us we're desperately keen to try to play well and complete the four games."

Scotland meanwhile were set to name their team overnight, having beaten Samoa 18-11 last weekend.

Things haven't been all rosy in Scottish rugby and, on results in 2005, the All Blacks' task looks a simple one, despite the 13 changes made to their side.

* Star All Blacks rugby flanker Richie McCaw says he wouldn't be playing this weekend against Scotland if he had one iota of concern for his health.

The after-effects of a head knock suffered against Ireland, which came in the form of general fatigue, not headaches, saw McCaw pull out of the England match despite being cleared by medical staff.

But this week has been much sunnier in McCaw's world.

"It's only a game of rugby and you've got to put your health first. If I was worried then I probably wouldn't be playing," McCaw said.

Last week was the third time in 18 months McCaw had missed a game because of a head injury.

- NZPA