John Drake: Henry's risky selection strategy pays off

The "Henry Plan" - some call it "Henry's Heresy" - has worked probably even better than the All Blacks management would have hoped.

Changing the entire test team had brought razor sharp comment from the public and even a few old and not-so-old All Blacks about cheapening the jersey and making the current players unhappy with non-selection.

The Ireland result makes these comments redundant and also shows a lack of understanding from those making them about what Graham Henry and his selectors are trying to do.

The All Blacks have a reputation for peaking between World Cups. This is because between tournaments we have built teams relying on a core group of 11 to 14 players.

In 1991, we expected the heroes of the 1987 team to roll on through the tournament. Unfortunately, by 1991 neither the minds nor the bodies were still willing and the All Blacks were exposed for a lack of depth.

In 1995, Laurie Mains' team was good enough to win but couldn't stop the passion of the new Rainbow Nation.

John Hart inherited Mains' team and made some improvements but was again exposed in 1999 with a lack of on-field leadership from players who should have known better, and lack of selection options.

John Mitchell's team of 2003 was cruelly exposed for a lack of depth and bizarre selections from a rugby nation which claims more depth of talent at the top than any other.

In the last two trips to the cup, we have fielded players out of position and gambled with critical selections like goalkickers.

Maybe Henry, Steve Hansen, Wayne Smith and Sir Brian Lochore have looked at these failures and decided to take some risks to find out if we have the depth we think is here. So far the risks have paid off. Whichever team played has won, and there is now a definite pattern and style coming through.

It is based around sound set pieces, brutal physicality at the ruck to win quick ball, turnovers and slowing down the opposition ball, an attitude to use the pill with hand no matter where on the field, extraordinary ball skills by all involved and a defensive pattern which strangles the opposition and opens counter-attack opportunities.

Against Ireland, all these features came through. Henry has commented that while this team had prepared extremely well, the result and high standard of execution was both surprising and pleasing.

So what's next?

I would expect the team to play England to be what the selectors consider to be the best of this group.

Maybe they already had this selection pencilled in before they left New Zealand.

But the form of all so far may lead to some rethinking.

Areas of stress due to the class of competition will be hooker, halfback, a partner for Tana Umaga at centre and the back three.

Anton Oliver offers more muscle at scrum time but Keven Mealamu is frightening in the loose and both now have nerves of steel for the lineout throw.

Piri Weepu is getting better with every game and makes others look good around him.

Ditto for Byron Kelleher, who might have the slightly better pass for now.

Aaron Mauger is part of the team's think tank with great vision. His defence sometimes could be better while Conrad Smith and now Ma'a Nonu have definitely said "pick me".

For me, selecting the back three from Doug Howlett, Rico Gear, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Joe Rokocoko, Mils Muliaina and Leon MacDonald is too tough. Who would you leave out and why?

The selectors will methodically work through the options.

A final thought on the future. Next time we send 35 guys to Europe, how about they arrange two games per weekend.

This would allow more rugby for us to watch, put less time pressure on the players and be great for the host nations. With due respect to some of the other nations, the All Blacks always generate the most spectators and TV advertising revenue. Why not play England at 2.30pm, then France at 6.30pm?

Of course, I'm joking. But hey, we have just witnessed the Henry Heresy of playing two different teams against last year's first and third-ranked Six Nations teams on consecutive Saturdays, so never say never.