Chorus of praise wavers in Wales

By KEVIN NORQUAY

LONDON - Voices singing the praises of coach Graham Henry as the Great Redeemer of Welsh rugby are starting to waver, after Wales were demolished 15-44 by England in Cardiff.

Welsh great Jonathan Davies told BBC's Grandstand programme that Henry was now under question in Wales.

Wales would have to play well in their next Six Nations match, against Scotland in Edinburgh on February 17, or "the knives would be out," he said.

Davies, a former captain of Wales, defended Henry for playing some players out of position, saying that he had few options.

But the drubbing would have had the many who resented the New Zealander being named coach of the British Lions rubbing their hands with glee.

Among those was England manager Clive Woodward, who had his own ambitions of taking the Lions Down Under this year.

In the Observer newspaper under the headline "Henry loses battle of coaches," rugby writer Eddie Butler said the England victory was a triumph for Woodward.

"[He] has barely managed to conceal his displeasure of the job having gone to an outsider ... all his comments have had a tinge of sour grapes about them," he said.

"But his sour grapes have all turned into a vintage special reserve.

"England under him are magnificently prepared, both physically and mentally.

"Wales are floundering a long way behind."

In the Independent, Tim Glover said Henry had selected a side with damage limitation written all over it and "he had failed miserably even in that modest ambition."

"If Henry was not feeling the pressure before, he is now.

"Two-and-a-half years into his five-year contract, the New Zealander suffered the most uncomfortable afternoon of his career.

"So did his adopted country."

Henry was generous in defeat, praising England's play as the best he had seen from a European side "for some time."

It was high praise from Henry, but well down from the summit of superlatives topped by one (English) writer who called England the best side in the world.

Since he took charge in 1997, Woodward has been trying to get his team to play a more expansive and varied game.

England have often lost key tests in the process of changing their tactics, notably during a disappointing 1999 World Cup campaign.

However, the way the English backs moved the ball wide with confidence, setting up centre Will Greenwood for a hat-trick of tries, provided clear proof that Woodward's team is getting close to 15-man "total rugby."

The new Millennium Stadium turf was grown in England and taken to Cardiff after criticism of the original surface.

The English cruised over it as if it was the green grass of their Twickenham home, silencing a hostile Welsh crowd.

Few English teams have played so well in front of one of the most intimidating rugby crowds.

England's rugby has moved on dramatically from the days of the 1980s and 1990s when the team's game was largely dominated by kicking and determined forward play, even though some of the teams did boast talented backs.

Having beaten Australia and South Africa at the end of last year, England lived up to their billing of Six Nations favourites in Cardiff with a display of running rugby which reminded the Welsh of the entertaining game played by the likes of Gareth Edwards and JPR Williams in the 1970s.

On this form, they are likely to run up a cricket score against the Italians at Twickenham in their next match on February 17.

- NZPA