100 Greatest All Blacks: Paul Henderson

'Ginge' could do a smooth line in business and always came out on the right side of the ledger. Paul Henderson knew the value of a dollar and it was not long before 'Coin' became another of his nicknames.

Paul Henderson also knew how to play rugby and was a terrific openside flanker whose only problem was playing in the era of Michael Jones, Josh Kronfeld and Mike Brewer.

Getting a test on the openside was super tough although Henderson managed 25 appearances in the All Black jersey even if the bulk of those were in midweek games.

Henderson captained the All Blacks once, when he led the side in the 1995 World Cup romp against Japan, a match which made headlines in the usually disinterested US media as the All Blacks won 145-17.

Inopportune injuries cut into his chances like the blood poisoning episode which threatened his career after an All Black trial at Palmerston North in 1990.

A cut over his left eye became infected and Henderson needed round the clock attention until the danger passed.

There was a further surprise when he got home to Invercargill and was told Manly rugby league coach Graham Lowe had been phoning to get him to swap codes with Matthew Ridge.

"I would have gone too but the injury stuffed that up," he recalled.

"But then I never would have got to captain the All Blacks where I have 100 per cent success compared to someone like Fitzy who only ran at 77 per cent," he laughed.

"And look at Richie, his winning percentage is higher but his side only beat Japan 54-6 last year."

The All Blacks do a good line in droll humour and with Eric Rush in the north and Paul Henderson in the south, they have those bases covered very neatly.

BACK TO WYNNE GRAY'S 100 GREATEST ALL BLACKS

Statistics
Date of birth: 21 September 1964
Position: Openside Flanker
Matches: 25
Tests: 7
Test debut: 6 July 1991 v Argentina, Buenos Aires
Final test: 4 June 1995 v Japan, Bloemfontein
Province: Southland
Test tries: 2
Test points: 9