Henry bullish about experienced All Blacks

Coach Graham Henry. Picture / Greg Bowker

CHRISTCHURCH - All Blacks coach Graham Henry has no qualms taking the favourites tag into Saturday's Tri-Nations rugby showdown with Australia in Christchurch after assembling a team with the key attribute of test hardness.

Based on the form of both teams in their three respective June tests, the Wallabies have a bright chance of going one-up in the Bledisloe Cup series opener at Jade Stadium.

Australian coach John Connolly was quick to snaffle the role of underdog and that sat comfortably with Henry, despite the fact his first-choice team would be playing together for the first time this year.

"We've got no complaints about the weekend. We don't want the underdog tag, we'll go out and play as best we can," Henry said, reflecting on the two patchy defeats of Ireland and narrow win over Argentina last month.

"We haven't played well in the last three games but we've played with some character and some backbone and you can't buy that.

"We're trying to develop as this Tri-Nations goes on.

"We want to peak at the right time. We're probably under-done for the weekend, which is understandable."

In terms of cohesion, the biggest question mark hangs over Mils Muliaina, whose 38th test will be his first at centre.

He wasn't used there last month, instead playing at his regular fullback in the two Irish tests, but moves to No 13 because of the selectors' desire to have he and fellow fullback Leon MacDonald take the field together.

Henry said Muliaina's former stints at centre for Auckland and the Blues as well as for the Chiefs in a handful of games this year showed he was good enough.

Also, the other backs had grown into experienced internationals, which would help Muliaina settle quickly during training this week and on Saturday night.

"That backline has played a lot of test matches and quite a few together, maybe not in those positions," Henry said.

"They're mature, they've experienced top line rugby and they'll be able to handle Saturday."

Henry didn't even talk about his forwards, who can boast a combined total of 221 test caps. That is the most for any starting All Blacks pack since the 1999 World Cup semifinal loss to France at Twickenham.

After the mass rotations of last month, Henry said his team will undergo only cosmetic changes for the remainder of the Tri-Nations, with injury or the obvious need for a break determining switches.

Muliaina particularly looks set for a decent crack at centre, with youngster Isaia Toeava the only other realistic candidate as Ma'a Nonu was ruled out for six weeks over the weekend with a thumb injury.

Aaron Mauger and the retired Tana Umaga comprised the midfield for all four Tri-Nations test last year.

A Mauger-Muliaina combination looks set to grace most of the six tests that make up the expanded competition this year.

Meanwhile, Connolly yesterday named the same starting 15 who impressed in their last-start defeat of Ireland.

A highlight on the reserve bench is the return to test rugby of winger Ben Tune after an absence of nearly four years, while classy pair Matt Giteau and Scott Fava also come onto the bench.

Teams:

New Zealand: Leon MacDonald, Rico Gear, Mils Muliaina, Aaron Mauger, Joe Rokocoko, Daniel Carter, Byron Kelleher, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerry Collins, Jason Eaton, Chris Jack, Carl Hayman, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Isaia Toeava, Luke McAlister, Piri Weepu, Chris Masoe, Ali Williams, Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore.

Australia: Chris Latham, Mark Gerrard, Stirling Mortlock, Mat Rogers, Lote Tuqiri, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan (captain), Rocky Elsom, George Smith, Mark Chisholm, Dan Vickerman, Nathan Sharpe, Guy Shepherdson, Tai McIsaac, Greg Holmes. Reserves: Jeremy Paul, Al Baxter, Scott Fava, Phil Waugh, Sam Cordingley, Ben Tune, Matt Giteau.

- NZPA