All Blacks: Coaches go back to the future

Graham Henry. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, a subtle change of thinking or better use of the All Black coaches' talents?

Theories are swirling about reasons for the latest portfolio switch and what possessed the Three Wise Men to alter their roles when they were so successful on the last tour of Europe.

The central thrust focused on Steve Hansen and why he had returned to coach the forwards after they were so well managed by Graham Henry on the unbeaten five-test run at the end of last season.

Just before the tour captain Richie McCaw spoke about the merits of "changing things up" with the coaches and how the side would benefit from some new voices.

It seemed to do that trick but last week when Henry, Hansen and Wayne Smith re-emerged into the public spotlight, they announced further changes.

Overall supremo Henry was in charge of attack, Hansen had switched to the forwards and Smith stayed with defence.

Henry maintained the changes had been made after lengthy discussions with senior players. It was crucial, he added, to stay ahead of their competitors and make changes which suited the team.

Those with a much more cynical viewpoint would ask how returning Hansen to work with the forwards, and in particular on the lineouts, would benefit the All Blacks.

Comparisons show that the All Blacks under Hansen's tutelage in nine tests last year had a 76.5 per cent success rate on their lineout throws and 91 per cent under Henry's control in five tests while both coaches limited their rivals to an 80 per cent mark on their deliveries.

There was a clear improvement on the end-of-year trip and results which suggested it would be sensible to persevere with the coaches' new roles. However, those statistics ignore a range of factors.

The end-of-year examination was not as robust as the Tri-Nations inquiries, particularly from the Springboks, and there was certainly a feeling that while Henry did a massive amount of work with the forwards and the lineout, it was an interim arrangement.

It allowed him to get a better "feel" for the team needs, it gave him a breather from his other duties and a different perspective on his work.

The lineout did improve on the late 2009 tour as the forwards put a great deal of emphasis on that area and worked ultra-hard with Henry against some less invasive foes.

Henry is one of rugby's great blotting pads.

He loves the game, delights in new challenges and soaks up information from every strand of help he discovers. He had done an enormous amount of work for his new tasks on tour but also had to rely on the experience and hands-on clout from senior forwards like Richie McCaw and Andrew Hore.

It was a similar scenario for Hansen as he took over the strategies for the backline. He added to his knowledge basket and grew his expertise.

But when they analysed that trip and then consulted their senior players, a back to the future approach seemed a more sensible, practical fit for this year.