As his jaded players go their separate ways nursing post grand slam hangovers, All Blacks coach Graham Henry happily heads home immune to one headache – adverse public reaction.
In stark contrast to the last time Henry left Europe, 13 months ago after the World Cup, he can look forward to a stress-free holiday reflecting on how he managed to salvage a damaged reputation by retaining the Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations trophy.
A grand slam and the Hillary Shield – for beating England 32-6 at Twickenham last Saturday – marked the end of an international campaign that had threatened to unravel after Robbie Deans’ Wallabies won the first trans-Tasman battle 34-19 in Sydney on July 26.
Instead, the All Blacks avenged that defeat seven days later in Auckland, the first of nine consecutive victories.
Henry’s contract as All Blacks coach expires at the end of next season but on this year’s form the 62-year-old is not yet ready to be pensioned off.
Weary from a long night celebrating in the team hotel, Henry was in no mood to speculate on whether he would be in charge when the All Blacks host the 2011 World Cup.
But there is little doubt he has been invigorated by his new-look team’s resurgence after successive losses to the Springboks and Australia.
A second clean sweep of the Home Unions was the crowning moment for Henry, who has looked more relaxed as it became apparent neither Scotland, Ireland, Wales or England were able to live with his team for 80 minutes – or, for that matter, score a try.
“I’m just delighted about the way the guys have hung in there, kept their intensity, kept their level of performance, it’s remarkable really,” said Henry, whose record with the All Blacks now stands at 55 wins and eight losses since he replaced John Mitchell in 2004.
“People just worked hard, the team’s knuckled down and got tight as a group of people. It’s just a complete package.”
It is also a radically reconfigured package after Henry, once he was controversially reappointed, had to compensate for the loss of a dozen or so of his World Cup squad, among them veterans like Anton Oliver, Carl Hayman, Jerry Collins, Chris Jack and Aaron Mauger.
Henry has always maintained how critical the experienced core of Richie McCaw, Rodney So’oialo, Ali Williams, Dan Carter and Mils Muliaina were in achieving this season’s success.
Henry is confident the nucleus of the next World Cup squad is already in place.
“I think we’re in good shape. I’d imagine the core of those who played (against England) will still be here in 2011,” he said.
Meanwhile, assistant coach Wayne Smith also rededicated himself to the cause yesterday by confirming he would see out his two-year contract.
Smith said the All Blacks environment was simply too fulfilling to give up, adding that Henry’s attitude this season had aided his decision.
“He protected a lot of people after the World Cup, he took a lot on his own shoulders and he’s learnt from the experience,” Smith said.
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