Henry tells All Blacks - express yourselves

Day one of the Lions tour and coach Sir Clive Woodward said rugby was a simple game. It was about winning or losing. His focus was already on the all-important first test in Christchurch.

Contrast that with his All Black rival and former Lions coach Graham Henry, who pointedly said yesterday that he stumbled in 2001 because he was over-focused on winning instead of player-development.

While exposing his frailties from that tour afresh, Henry was able to have a gentle dig at Woodward on the eve of a series which has some historical baggage about it.

When Henry was appointed to coach the Lions in 2001, Woodward was annoyed. Any small chance of reprisal with England last year ended in a humiliating series defeat.

For the last few weeks, even as the tour unfolded, the rival coaches have held centre-stage - their thoughts, ideas, strategies, spin and humour all explored in the countdown to this evening's kickoff in Christchurch.

On that first day back in Auckland in late May, Woodward also mentioned that if Henry could work out from the tour games how the Lions were going to play in the first test, then the All Blacks would win.

No question the Lions have succeeded in hiding their gameplan. We have seen expert crosskicks, a bit of scrummaging, some lineouts, a willing defence and not much else after the withering opening 15 minutes against Bay of Plenty.

That was an eye-opening start and if the Lions were to repeat that mix of power and finesse tonight, they would rattle the All Blacks' cage.

And while Henry is as capable of planting cant, or his tongue in his cheek, he was genuine in his admiration for the Lions.

"I think those who know the game ... have a lot of respect for the Lions and what they can produce."

The less well-informed might have placed a question-mark over the tourists, he said.

"But those who know the game know it is going to be a huge contest."

There was a massive expectation throughout New Zealand, and the All Blacks and their staff had worked on harnessing that belief. It was important the All Blacks enjoyed the test, expressed themselves and did not feel inhibited by the fact that rugby was the number one sport in the country.

The All Blacks could not control the weather or questions from the media and had to concentrate on being in command of their intentions.

While Henry said his coaching style had changed a great deal since the 2001 Lions trip, yesterday was not the time to repeat at length his thoughts on that rugby renovation.

"Briefly, it was the biggest learning experience that I went through as a rugby coach," Henry said.

It was a strange world trying to graft a New Zealand culture onto a group of Europeans. Perhaps, he suggested, he needed to have been a bit more "touchy-feely" with the Lions, as he then draped his arm round captain Tana Umaga sitting alongside him.

"A lot of good memories, a few scars, pleased I went through it. I think we are groups who have been brought up differently.

"I think perhaps the New Zealand rugby player is a wee bit more practical in that way. It is just the way they have been brought up. I am not explaining myself very well so perhaps I should avoid this question."

Those issues have moved on in four years.

Woodward is at the helm of a team he thought he should have coached in 2001 while Henry is in charge of a side he feels far more comfortable with.

The staff have done their work, it is now over to the players. It is their stage.

Graham Henry's All Blacks record
12 tests
10 wins
2 losses