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LONDON - Coach Graham Henry says forthright comments from his players is another sign of the growing maturity within his All Blacks rugby squad.
Hooker Anton Oliver and second five-eighth Aaron Mauger stirred up a media hornets nest ahead of the test against England tomorrow morning (NZT) by
criticising the previous behaviour of the Twickenham crowd.
Former captain Oliver described them as "ignorant and arrogant" while vice-captain Mauger followed up with the allegation of racial abuse from a small section of supporters directed at some All Blacks players during the test here last year.
These unprovoked comments caused a stir just as much for the fact that New Zealand rugby players and officials inherently try to steer clear of controversial incidents and issues.
Henry supported the players' rights to speak their mind publicly and believed it demonstrated a growing confidence and willingness to express themselves.
"I think it's a sign of maturity, I think it's a sign of greater sensitivity, I think that's good," he said.
"I wouldn't get carried away (with the issue), I think it's a storm in a teacup personally and you get these situations in big-time sporting venues in a number of different sporting codes.
"They just happened to make a factual statement and have been surprised by the interest in what they've said."
Henry said he was unaware of the alleged racial abuse last year but was not surprised when he heard about it this week.
"Nothing surprises me these days, I've been around the traps for a wee while."
Mauger said "a few racial remarks" had been directed at some players, with Pacific island players in the team coming in for most attention.
England's Rugby Football Union (RFU) chief executive Francis Baron voiced his disappointment at the allegations and rejected them, saying that the Twickenham supporters had been "unfairly accused".
"No allegations of any racist abuse were made during or after that game and it is puzzling why they have now been made a year later," Baron said.
All Blacks manager Darren Shand said the team regarded the incident last year as a minor issue and they were never going to pursue it.
"It's a year later and it's not such a big deal really. It was maybe just a couple of isolated comments, we get them anywhere we play in the world, even at home in New Zealand," Shand said.
The British media largely ignored the issue today while England coach Andy Robinson and the RFU's director of elite rugby Rob Andrew both refused to comment on the issue at a final pre-match press conference.
- NZPA