Henry keen on challenge of bonus Wales match

Graham Henry

A Grand Slam tour would be a terrific dress-rehearsal for the challenges the All Blacks would have to overcome if they were to succeed at the next World Cup.

Coach Graham Henry offered that viewpoint yesterday as officials from New Zealand and Wales continued their discussions about a special commemorative test on the end-of-year tour.

Those talks have hit a snag about a date. Wales offered to host the test on November 5 but New Zealand said that was too soon after the October 22 NPC final and suggested a December 3 game.

"We are keen to play the new Six Nations champs," Henry said of his previous Welsh side.

"It is just a matter of how best we can do that and that is still undecided."

Henry said his coaching staff were eager and prospective players were keen to add a test against Wales to the schedule against the other Home Nations.

"Getting a Grand Slam tour is a stimulating concept for the players and they do appreciate the significance of it after the first 1905 match between the two nations.

"Players need these sorts of series so they get more of an idea about the pressure they can be subjected to in the knockout phases of a World Cup.

"The more practice they can get at it, the better for whoever is in charge of the team and whoever the players are in 2007."

However the gap of just two weeks between the NPC final and a possible test against Wales was an issue.

* Steve Hansen, part of the New Zealand coaching team under his Wales predecessor Henry, sent his congratulations immediately after Wales beat Ireland for their first Grand Slam in 27 years over the weekend.

"He told us to make sure we did not forget our ice baths," said captain Michael Owen.

"Steve liked to present a dour image to the media, saving his smiles for the players, and he was a guy you could talk to.

"He left a superb legacy and said he expected us to win a few more Grand Slams."