Rugby: Poignant lead-in to Cup for Henry

Graham Henry. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Graham Henry and Carisbrook began their All Black life together.

That partnership will resume in late July as a symbol of the defiance both have delivered to those who wanted to cut them adrift of rugby's mainstream.

Henry survived the 2007 World Cup fallout while Carisbrook has received several final test tributes without the fatal curtain call.

Protection of the new stadium surface in Dunedin has given Carisbrook another reprieve while Henry will suit up for his 92nd test in charge of the men in black.

Since he began as All Black coach in 2004 at the 'Brook, Henry has taken the side through 78 victories and just 13 defeats.

Nine men who were involved in Henry's first All Black test, the 36-3 triumph against England, are still playing in New Zealand.

Several like captain Tana Umaga, wing Joe Rokocoko and lock Chris Jack are World Cup outsiders, the rest are strongly in the frame.

That group contains Mils Muliaina, Daniel Carter, Richie McCaw, Keven Mealamu, Andrew Hore and Tony Woodcock.

Some will be under more heat than others. Henry and his selectors need Muliaina to play well after his back injury and will hope to see more sting in Hore's work.

When Henry was quizzed about his World Cup selections in the latter stages of last year's Grand Slam tour, he forecast about six places being up for debate.

Those vacancies may have broadened a shade in a likely squad split of 14 backs and 16 forwards.

The blowtorch is coming on several backs who went on tour - Cory Jane, Rokocoko, Ma'a Nonu, Stephen Donald and Alby Mathewson - to thwart others pushing for their spots.

In the forwards, there must be similar pressure on Liam Messam, Daniel Braid, Tom Donnelly, Hika Elliot, Hore and Neemia Tialata.

Who is generating the heat?

Try Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Sean Maitland, Jared Payne, Richard Kahui, Robbie Fruean, Zac Guildford and Brendon Leonard in the backs.

Then lob in Adam Thomson, Victor Vito, Matt Todd, Jack and Jason Rutledge in the forwards. There are others but those names have emerged from the first segment of the Super 15 series.

Tack on the unknowns like the injury returns of Ali Williams, Piri Weepu and Colin Slade and it is easy to see "Ted" reaching for the Disprin rather than the champers as he heads towards his 65th birthday.

He will qualify for his gold card bus pass just after the countdown to the Cup passes under the 100-day mark.

A month later he, Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen will be slicing their selections down towards the 30 allowed for the tournament.

They will have some leeway to test a few marginal choices in the truncated Tri-Nations series with the Springboks and Wallabies.

But not much and anyway those few players are only likely to be bit-part players in the World Cup.

Once that tournament starts, Henry will rack up his All Black test "ton" in the last pool match against Canada in Wellington.

Then he will really start to earn his coin. Four years ago there was an ignominious quarter-final exit.

This time?

In six months we will know the answer.