Tag Archives: graham henry

Former All Blacks coach Graham Henry has named Ireland as one of the favourites for the 2019 World Cup.

Two-time World Cup-winning All Black centre Sonny Bill Williams will miss his side’s opening Rugby Championship clash with Australia in Sydney on August 19, according to the New Zealand Herald. This is after a World Rugby hearing decided that the 28-year-old’s four-week ban for a reckless shoulder charge to Anthony Watson’s face during his side’s second Test against the British …

British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland is a contender for the coveted All Blacks coaching role in 2019. Hamilton-born Gatland has not hidden his desire to one day lead his country and ahead of Saturday’s series decider at Eden Park, his chances have been given a boost by New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew. Speaking to the …

When it comes to both the British and Irish Lions and the All Blacks, Graham Henry is better qualified than most to pass judgment. Having coached the 2001 Lions team to a hard-fought 2-1 series defeat in Australia, the former Wales coach would then go on to coach his native New Zealand from 2004 to 2011 (and masterminded that infamous …

Warren Gatland caused something of a stir at the weekend when he announced the six players to be called up to the Lions squad for this week’s clash against the Chiefs. The purpose of the additions – namely Welshman Kristian Dacey, Cory Hill, Tomas Francis and Gareth Davies as well as Scots Finn Russell and Allan Dell – was simple enough, …

It was inevitable that conversation surrounding the infamous Brian O’Driscoll incident from the 2005 British & Irish Lions Tour would rear its head in the coming weeks.  Over the last few days, many people have been discussing the comments made by Kevan Mealamu who was one of the players, along with Tana Umaga, who ended O’Driscoll’s season with that dangerous spear …

Leinster saw off Munster 25-14 at the Aviva stadium. The game between Leinster and Munster in the Aviva stadium was certainly not a classic. Both sides are shadows of their former selves, with Munster in particular still looking off the pace. During the early weeks of the season it was apparent that Rassie Erasmus had stripped Munster back to the …

There is a belief in some circles that FIBA’s decision in 1989 to allow professional basketball players to compete in the summer Olympics ruined the game of international basketball. Between 1972 and 1988 the United States men’s basketball team had won just two Gold medals from four possible tournaments. The US had famously boycotted the 1980 Olympics in Moscow due to the Soviet Union’s decision to …

Graham Henry believes that both Leinster and Ireland will have no need to worry once Jonny Sexton hangs up his boots, or so the story goes. Gordon D’Arcy would tend to agree, while Rob Kearney has been similarly impressed by Joey Carbery’s start to the 2016/2017 season. “We’ve seen his potential over the past number of months on a daily …

Graham Henry recently made a bold statement lamenting the low level of the opposition the All Blacks face. But here is perhaps an even bolder statement: the opposition is so poor because they overcomplicate the game. Years ago, Morio Higaonna Sensei, head of Goju Ryu Karate-do, did a demonstration in Antwerp. He kneeled and asked a first dan black belt to …

New Zealand’s All Blacks are poised to secure yet another Rugby Championship title as they take on South Africa on Saturday morning. In what has been a pedestrian stroll for the world champions, taking three wins from three in a combined score of 128-39, beating the Springboks today will see the 14-game streaking All Blacks wrap up the title without …

Leinster surprised the rugby public when they appointed Stuart Lancaster as senior coach this week. Last season Leinster paid the price for sacking Matt O’Conner without having an alternative candidate ready to take the reigns. The speed at which the province moved to cast aside the Australian was in complete contrast to their fruitless search to find a replacement. Throughout the …

Leinster’s Kurt McQuilkin has returned to New Zealand for personal reasons. Leinster have this morning announced that Kurt McQuilkin will step down as defence coach and return to New Zealand for personal reasons. The news will come as a blow to the province, who will have to appoint a new defence coach as their pre-season preparations come to a conclusion. Indeed, McQuilkin …

The old adage ‘if it’s not broke, don’t fix it’ may apply to old wooden shelves and furniture, but in sports and business, it pays to be proactive rather than reactive. It’s hard to tell which of the two camps Irish Rugby is, as one hand the appointment of Anthony Foley and Leo Cullen as Munster and Leinster coaches was a sign …

Graham Henry has argued for changes to be made to rugby’s breakdown laws. As rugby has become increasingly physical since the game turned professional, World Rugby have trialled and adapted the laws governing the sport on a regular basis to ensure the safety of players. Given the number of injuries suffered by front rows, the scrum has come in for particular attention, …

In the previous article we put together World XVs based on statistics for three decades: the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Now we move on to analyse the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and up to the present day. 1980s (20+ Caps) As rugby grows as a sport, more and more games are being played which is why this team is made up …

As part of a series of articles on the best sides from each nation, we turn our attentions next to the greatest players to have ever played for New Zealand’s revered All Blacks. Rather than simply producing a subjective team list based on one person’s opinions, we will go through several statistically-based sides to help you decide on your ultimate …

L’Equipe and Infosport + have both shockingly claimed that Diego Dominguez is set to be dismissed from his post as Toulon coach. Dominguez, who is a former Stade Francais flyhalf, had been shadowing Bernard Laporte since the turn of the year but has now seemingly blown his chance to stand at the helm at one of the wealthiest clubs in …