Henry won't mind the gap

Graham Henry did the right thing when it was put to him that he must be concerned by the growing gulf in class between the two hemispheres. The All Black coach firstly refused to acknowledge there is a gap and then said the whole issue was of little concern to him.

"I always get this question everywhere I go," he said. "It is a non-concern for us. But I think the question will be better answered by the results of this tour. South Africa lost two games when they were over here last year and Australia also lost so I don't know if there is a gulf."

It was a politically correct answer. Henry is smart enough to realise that he would be accused of arrogance if he agreed there is a gulf. He knows that his words would make easy pickings for the headline writers, so he kept his counsel.

But one must wonder whether he does feel some distress that the four opponents the All Blacks will face on this trip have all enjoyed better times. Wales looked an exciting package when they swept to Six Nations glory earlier this year. Their bubble was well and truly burst during the Lions tour, though, when we discovered they were simply the best of a bad bunch.

That view was reiterated last weekend in Cardiff when the Welsh ran out and immediately lay down and died. Their worst moment came early in the game when centre Mark Taylor threw a pass off his left hand that didn't go within five metres of the intended receiver and flew straight into the stands. Even more distressing was the abysmal stuff served up the day before the test, when Ulster played the Ospreys and Munster played Cardiff.

Insomniacs could have been cured just seconds after kick-off in both games. It was a filthy night but, still, any New Zealanders watching might have wondered whether any of the sides on view would have given Buller a run for their money.

On one level the very average skill levels over here will not disturb Henry. After all, if the All Blacks win the 2007 World Cup the record books will not list them as winners and carry an asterisk alerting readers that they only won because everyone else wasn't very good. But Henry is a big picture kind of guy who has a deep love of the game.

The sport is more likely to grow globally if there are more stars and more classic games. The World Cup's credibility hinges on there being more genuine contenders.

There is also the theory that Henry would get more of a kick out of his job if the home nations were providing stiffer competition.

Ask the players what their favourite game was this season and most would say the epic late win against the Boks in Dunedin, as opposed to the 48-18 demolition of the Lions in Wellington. That game in Dunedin took them to the brink of their mental and physical capacity. That is what they train and live for.

The game against the Lions was more of a stroll in the park, literally. Fun... but ultimately unsatisfying.

Henry's private view is unlikely to be much different to the one held by the players. The satisfaction of a Grand Slam will be slightly muted by knowing it was achieved against four mediocre sides.

Only slightly muted, mind, and Henry is only likely to comment on the whole issue of the growing gulf in quality between the hemispheres if the All Blacks secure the 2007 World Cup.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY