Rugby: Skills victim of 'bash-bash'

Graham Henry says that 'A lot of our athletes are coming through a system that doesn't prepare them for professional rugby.' Photo / Getty Images

All Blacks coach Graham Henry believes many young New Zealand players are ill-equipped to play professionally as their basic skills are neglected by a system that promotes the collision above all else.

In a warning that should have everyone in the country taking note, Henry says schoolboy rugby leaves too many of the best players lacking in the most basic skills.

He worries the default graduate into the professional ranks has the physicality required - but few decision-making and rugby skills such as kick and catch and tactical acumen.

"A lot of our athletes are coming through a system that doesn't prepare them for professional rugby. It doesn't prepare them as well for professional rugby - they are big and strong and tough but somewhat lacking in vision, decision-making and some of the skills required for the game," Henry said in Milan ahead of the clash with Italy.

"If you watch New Zealand secondary schools rugby, there is an over-emphasis on the physicality and not enough emphasis on skills, on how you move the ball into space and attack and not on kicking and catching the bloody thing."

As the national coach with 20 years' experience in schoolboy rugby, Henry knows the All Blacks will be directly affected by this flaw at the junior stage of development. If the foundations are not laid, then it is next to impossible for the All Blacks to play the type of rugby and execute the high-skilled game plan needed to win tests.

"I have watched a fair bit of schoolboy rugby - it is the place where I grew up, so to speak - and have been disappointed in the skill level of the game and the way the ball is always trying to stay in the hand so it is bash-bash," says Henry.

"Take the Kelston Boys versus Auckland Grammar game for want of a better fixture - I was a bit disappointed that I didn't see a more skilful match. There was a huge amount of passion, huge amount of physicality but not a huge amount of skill where players were making good decisions and putting the ball into space - whether they put it through the hands or they kick it into space and recover it."

Just how far behind the All Blacks are in their basic skills was apparent this year when they were beaten three times by the Springboks.

The All Blacks were unable to deal with the relentless kicking game employed by the Boks and made critical mistakes at critical times when their skill level let them down.

Unless schools place greater emphasis on kicking, catching and developing players with a better grasp on the tactical nuances of the current game, Henry clearly fears the All Blacks will suffer more defeats.

He has made his feelings clear to those involved in the schoolboy game and says the All Blacks this year have learned the hard way that their skills are not up to speed.