The Rugby World Cup is already won and the All Blacks hold the trophy, according to a promotional cover for a book by sportscaster Murray Deaker.
The book is called Henry's All Blacks. How the 2007 Rugby World Cup was won in material sent by publisher HarperCollins to
media and booksellers.
Yesterday, publishing manager Lorain Day said the premature exultation should not have been made public. "I wasn't aware any material had been sent out regarding the cover. We're not trying to call which way the Cup is going to go."
She said the cover was one of two. A second cover - without the line about winning the World Cup - and with photos of dejected players trudging from the field has also been mocked up.
The first 240 pages are already printed, but Deaker will write a final chapter on Henry's coaching the day after the All Blacks' final whistle blows. "Hopefully that will be the day after the final and we win," he said. "Or I might write a week earlier... I would expect the book would sell three times as many copies if the All Blacks win."
Deaker said his project - co-written with son John - was an objective analysis of Henry's road to the Cup. Not all of it was flattering to his friend of 40 years. He criticised the All Blacks' rotation system and conditioning programme during the Super 14, which he said let the public down.
Deaker is flying to France next weekend to watch the quarter-final matches of the tournament that he said would define Henry's reign. "He was beaten as the coach of the Lions and he has won almost everything since. But the World Cup is what he'll be remembered for."
