Rugby: Welsh hopes put acid on Henry

LONDON - Of all the New Zealanders involved in this season's Five Nations rugby championship, none is feeling the weight of a nation more heavily on his shoulders than Graham Henry.

Former Auckland coach Henry, now in charge of Wales, is the game's highest-paid coach, but the fever-pitched passion pouring out of the Welsh valleys is raising hopes of a miracle from him.

He is facing great expectations of a return from Murrayfield in Edinburgh on Sunday with a Scottish scalp from his first Five Nations outing.

The hunger for success in Welsh rugby has never been higher. The Welsh call Henry a rugby Messiah.

"There is a lot of tradition and history in Welsh rugby. It's the No 1 sport here. We carry the nation on our shoulders," Henry said. "Apparently, if we lose people don't turn up for work and the players don't leave their homes.

"I suppose it's the culture, but that's far too emotional and demanding. The team must concentrate on doing their best, and the nation can't expect any more."

Welsh supporters believe that Henry has special qualities to take the Red Dragons to the top again.

He has that Pied Piper effect in Wales, proving popular everywhere he goes, and he is immensely respected.

Henry almost masterminded an astonishing Welsh victory over South Africa in November, and expectancy levels have risen through the roof as a result.

The pressure Henry is facing is not so great for the other New Zealanders involved in the Five Nations.

John Mitchell, the England assistant-coach, is hardly a cult figure among the English, while Warren Gatland, the diligent Irish coach, does not face the same pressures as Henry in Wales.

Few expect a bustling Ireland side to beat slick France in Dublin this weekend.

It was not that many years ago that Mitchell and Gatland were packing down for the All Blacks and Waikato. This year they will be feverishly preparing teams to beat each other.

Two other expatriate New Zealand forwards, Ross Nesdale and Andy Ward, are in the Irish pack.

"The championship's whole emphasis will change if we can beat France. We will certainly be able to compete with them physically," Gatland said.

"We have set ourselves a goal of finishing third, which would be our best placing for 10 seasons.

"I will be very surprised if any team goes through unbeaten."

New Zealand does not have a presence in the French side, though Frank Bunce, Kevin Nepia, Tabai Matson, Cliff Mytton, Frano Botica, Lee Stensness and Keith George are consistently testing themselves against French squad members.

The biggest Kiwi presence is in Scotland, with John Leslie, Martin Leslie, Glen Metcalfe, Sean Longstaff and Gordon Simpson all playing vital roles in Jim Telfer's Scottish plans.

The romantics crave for Wales to win the Five Nations, but bookmakers back England and pragmatists rate France. - NZPA