Newcomers champ at the bit for All Blacks action

Graham Henry

DUBLIN - All Blacks rugby coach Graham Henry has no fewer selection headaches for the rest of the Grand Slam bid despite a clinical 41-3 demolition of a woeful Welsh side yesterday.

Henry names his side on Wednesday morning (NZT) to face Ireland at Lansdowne Rd this weekend, with the possibility he could pick an entirely new starting 15 from that which did the job in Cardiff.

A smiling Henry said after yesterday's victory that nothing had changed from his pre-tour plans.

That means he will rest captain Tana Umaga -- who had an indifferent match yesterday -- give Richie McCaw the captaincy and usher in a host of new combinations as he tries to give as many of his 35-strong squad a run in the first two weeks.

After prop Neemia Tialata and flanker Chris Masoe imposed themselves superbly in bruising debuts and Angus Macdonald got a 10 minute debut at the end, prop John Afoa, lock Jason Eaton and utility back Isaea Toeava could all earn their first All Blacks jersey this week.

Ironically the toughest decision may involve Henry's star pivot Daniel Carter who returned to test rugby with another stellar performance in the 10 jersey.

Just three months after suffering a fractured leg against the Wallabies, Carter was back directing traffic with ease -- scoring 26 points including two tries on the back of a dominant forward performance.

Ireland have been tough nuts to crack at Lansdowne Rd but without their inspirational leader, Brian O'Driscoll, and with several other frontliners under injury clouds they aren't so imposing.

Whether Henry chooses to press on with Carter and build a new backline around him, or introduce Leon MacDonald or Nick Evans is a close call.

England will likely provide the toughest challenge the following week, which should see Henry's strongest 15 take the field then.

Carter gave himself and the team a "can do better" report card after some first half handling lapses, but was satisfied overall.

He admitted it would be hard to sit out the Ireland match.

"It's always pretty tough when you've been out for a while with injury. I didn't really know how I'd go out there but I'm pretty happy," Carter said.

"I possibly won't play against Ireland but I haven't heard anything. You always want to play in the black jersey but Graham's made it pretty clear what his plans are and he's got the support from all the guys.

"Obviously you want to play every at opportunity but if not you freshen up and get ready for the next one."

Umaga cut a subdued figure yesterday -- unhappy with his own performance and perhaps a touch frustrated he will miss the Ireland match -- and he was succinct in his assessment.

"I think most of those errors came from me. I must be showing my age, it took me a while to get into it," Umaga said.

"We're all better for the game under our belts... Whether I play Ireland is out of my hands -- I just do what's best for the team."

Another All Blacks star was wing Rico Gear who doubled his tally of test tries with a hat-trick -- the first he could remember since scoring three for North Harbour against Southland in 2001.

Gear, another who has had an excellent year, said the change in mindset had gone up a notch in 2005.

"Just the improvement from last year. We knew we could score a lot of tries today and it was just a bit of patience."

There was still the "one game at a time" response from the All Blacks camp over their Grand Slam chances.

Wales' best player and captain Gareth Thomas admitted Ireland, England and Scotland had their work cut out.

"I'm sure New Zealand will be the first to say that they're not invincible -- no team is. They're playing the best rugby in the world at the moment," Thomas said.

"I believe any team is beatable but it's going to take a mighty team to defeat them."

- NZPA