All the talk of 'H' and 'D'

By WYNNE GRAY

Each player seems to mention the topic even in casual conversation.

It is the D word, as in defence, something that has not been too prevalent in Auckland rugby in recent seasons.

Inevitably, another word punctuates the dialogue. It is the H word, Henry, as in Graham Henry, a man who was a dominant factor in Auckland rugby for most of the past decade.

Henry is back from Wales as a resource coach for the Auckland Rugby Union, with special duties as a technical analyst and defensive coach for the NPC side.

So far so good. Auckland are still in the scramble for the semifinals, although they do have a tough run home, starting today in Hamilton against competition leaders Waikato.

Auckland have lost twice, but pull out the statistics sheet and the reading is heartening. Their defence is the most miserly in the NPC, letting in just seven tries, while their attack has been equally as productive as Waikato.

It is a balance that Henry toils over, heading to work soon after each Auckland game to analyse the latest performance and inspect the dossier on their next opponents.

"I wanted Graham involved because of his widespread experience with Auckland, the Blues, New Zealand A, Wales and the Lions," Auckland coach Wayne Pivac said. "We can throw all his work and our thoughts into the melting pot and it has been working."

Auckland face a difficult match today at Waikato Stadium, with both sides coming off defeats. Waikato could stumble and still feel comfortable, with matches against battlers Northland and Bay of Plenty to follow. But they want to stay top qualifier for the home semifinal advantage.

Should Auckland dip today they could also slip out of the top four after this latest round of results, with matches against Otago and Wellington to follow. The blue and whites are in the more precarious position.

But coaches cannot look that far ahead. It is an adage they all share, and which has been carried by Henry throughout his lengthy coaching stint.

It is something he is working hard to instil in the young group at Auckland.

"When I left [in 1998] there was a mature group of players and there is still the odd one around now," he said. "But when I look at the depth of Auckland rugby and the young players, the future is bright, there is a ton of talent through the development side, club rugby and secondary schools.

"It is very promising for the future and that is the way it should be."

And the immediate future, today in Hamilton?

"We have been making a lot of improvements in our defence, but from what I have seen Waikato have been the most potent team with the ball in this competition," Henry observed.

"Waikato have been the best side so far in the NPC and losing last Saturday won't do them any harm and it won't do us much good either.

"They have a mature group of forwards with Muir, Willis and Smith and their loosies, they are a very good pack. It reminds me of when John Mitchell played and they had the same pedigree in the forwards then."

Henry was coach in 1992 when Auckland were top qualifiers but succumbed to Waikato in the opening semifinal as, under Mitchell's captaincy, they marched to their solitary NPC title. That Waikato side is holding a reunion this weekend, looking for a repeat against Auckland.

If Henry's coaching instincts have not dimmed, neither has he lost his ability to talk up the opposition and massage his own side.

"Look, this is an opportunity for us to see how we measure up against the best side. It is a positive chance against a quality rugby side and we have got to express ourselves."

Both teams would have been probing their video and analytical data to find each other's strengths and weaknesses, to see how their own assets could exploit the other. Most NPC squads had a wide range of patterns which they would vary to suit their opponents.

"The sides which are the hardest to deal with are those which you have played a number of times and they suddenly vary something. But that is not easy for them either, because it is hard to perfect a wide range of ideas."

Auckland: Carlos Spencer, Doug Howlett, Mils Muliaina, Eroni Clarke, Iliesa Tanivula, Lee Stensness, Steve Devine, Xavier Rush (capt), Daniel Braid, Justin Collins, Bradley Mika, Ali Williams, Kees Meeuws, Keven Mealamu, Nick White.

Res: James Christian, Soane Tonga'uiha, Bryce Williams, Angus MacDonald, David Gibson, Sam Tuitupou, Brent Ward.

Waikato: Todd Miller, Roger Randle, Regan King, Keith Lowen, Bruce Reihana, David Hill, Rhys Duggan, Deon Muir (capt), Marty Holah, Jono Gibbes, Keith Robinson, Royce Willis, Deacon Manu, Greg Smith, Michael Collins. Res: Scott Linklater, David Briggs, Steven Bates, Scott Couch, Duncan Jamieson, Derek Maisey, Mark Ranby.

Kickoff: 2.35pm. Ref: Kelvin Deaker (Hawkes Bay).