All Blacks: Henry puts reputation on the line

Graham Henry watches as Jason Eaton (left) stands with Tom Donnelly while Andrew Hore practices lineout throws during training yesterday. Photo / NZPA

Lineouts have become so complex and detailed that the All Blacks have counted the number of photographic frames it takes for rival forwards to get to the top of their leap.

Coach Graham Henry revealed that sort of exhaustive analysis after day one in his new forwards portfolio as the 33-strong squad for Europe trained yesterday at Waitakere Stadium in Auckland.

Henry's detailed hands-on knowledge of lineouts expired after his coaching tenure with Wales ended seven years ago.

The difference between then and now, he agreed, was massive but it would be a great challenge to get on top of his new area in coaching.

Henry recalled he had help from a part-time scrummaging coach when he went to Wales in 1998 and he did the rest.

He remembered a black tie dinner after England had beaten Wales by some margin, and recalled Sir Clive Woodward shook his head as he looked at Henry and his offsider and asked how they expected to beat the six coaches employed by England.

"I thought we could," Henry answered yesterday.

"It was okay then. The lineout has got a hell of a lot more sophisticated and there is a huge amount of expertise which goes into lineouts, a huge amount of analysis.

"Then there is the explosiveness of the jump and the lift, trying to get people off the ground quickly, having faith on the guys either side to do their bit - all of those things are part of the game."

Henry said he was in charge of lineouts throughout his time with Wales but "technically it was never as searching as it is now".

The All Blacks research unit counted frames on jumpers and Springbok Victor Matfield was the quickest in the world from the ground to the peak of his jump.

Their task was to emulate that sort of prowess, to find ways to challenge that excellence. They trained yesterday with new portable stages they will take on tour which allow them to emulate lineouts without the need for lifters.

The platform system allows the locks to be stationed at their optimum jumping height.

Jason Eaton and Tom Donnelly were the first players to road test the apparatus yesterday, they stood as hookers Andrew Hore, Corey Flynn and prop Tony Woodcock aimed at their outstretched arms.

The portable stainless steel platforms were devised by the same company that has kept All Blacks' scrum guru Mike Cron equipped with cutting edge machinery.

Henry was tipped off to the use of platforms by assistant Crusaders coach Mark Hammett. Canterbury and the Crusaders use a fixed platform at their Christchurch training base.

In the updated coaching carousel, Henry has taken charge of the forwards, Hansen has been switched to run the backs and Smith to work on the defensive areas.

"It is stimulating to be frank. I think Shag [Steve Hansen] and Smithy [Wayne Smith] have found the same because it puts you on edge if you haven't done it before and you have to think it through again," said Henry.

He had ample support from captain Richie McCaw, Brad Thorn, Rodney So'oialo and Tony Woodcock who were very experienced.

Cron and Mick Byrne (the lineout coach for Japan) also delivered their insights.

"I am really the guy who initiates it all, organises it, puts my two bobs' worth in and some of my two bobs' worth helped this morning which was pleasing," Henry added.

The squad had met for the first time on Monday night where they set the scene for the tour with words from the four new players and first year All Blacks. Injured hooker Keven Mealamu spoke about the All Blacks legacy and the side's winning percentage throughout history.

They talked about the cornerstone policies of the All Blacks, ways of dealing with the pressure, the demands of a tour and the basic game plan they wanted to implement at the start of the five test and Barbarians match trip.

"If we get the skeleton right then we can put the muscle on it," Henry said after the opening training session.

"We have been doing a lot of that."

The All Blacks had beaten the Wallabies three times this season but the fourth contest in Tokyo in 10 days would be the toughest.

"They will be at their best mentally for this game, they have made a change at captain and I think when you make that change there is an upward movement on the graph and I think Rocky [Elsom] will be good.

"It means that the senior guys who have been overlooked for those senior roles will want to prove themselves, it is three-nil and they should be at the peak of their powers mentally.

"The expectation is huge but I think that is motivational for the side as long as you handle it in the right way.

"Players put personal pressure on themselves and it is all about how they handled that heat."

There was extra tension, a bit more focus after an unconvincing season and the Tokyo match would be a massive challenge.