Editorial: No need for haste on Henry's future

Opinion

Traditionally, the All Blacks start the international season slowly. When they are playing the likes of Tonga or Italy, as is usually the case, the consequences are not as severe as the defeat by France at Carisbrook. Customarily, the All Blacks also bounce back from such losses. This resilience has been the foundation of their long-time domination of world rugby in all except the World Cup. If this pattern recurs at Wellington next weekend, few will be surprised. But that should not be the signal for a blanket to be thrown over issues that could have a significant bearing on the All Blacks' 2011 World Cup campaign.

One of these is the wholly unnecessary scramble by the New Zealand Rugby Union to extend, without contestability, coach Graham Henry's tenure through to that event. It does not have to make that decision until the end of this year, when his contract expires. It appears, however, to be contemplating reappointing him as early as this week.

The rugby union's thinking is probably based on Henry's impressive overall record since the All Blacks' quarter-final exit from the 2007 World Cup and a dearth of other candidates. The latter may be true on the home front, but certainly not internationally. Most pertinently, the loss to an under-strength French side provides every reason to pause. Henry's credentials can easily be reassessed at the end of the season.

The All Black coach can offer excuses for the Carisbrook setback. Key players were injured or being rested, and his team had to adjust from experimental law variations used in the Super 14. Yet it is the coaching staff's responsibility to manage such transitions. Worse, the New Zealand performance revealed serious deficiencies in selection, tactics, motivation and on-field leadership. Much of that can also be sheeted home to the coaching staff. What the team did not lack, contrary to assistant coach Steve Hansen's claim, was experience in big-match intensity.

Early last month, Henry proclaimed his wish to coach the All Blacks through to the World Cup. This may, or may not, have been intended to put pressure on the rugby union. Either way, it need not hurry. Nor should it think it would be suicidal to change the coach at the end of the year. Jake White's success with the Springboks provides the counter to that - and also suggests another lesson.

South Africa could field only a hapless team when White, formerly the national under-21 coach, took charge in 2004, pledging to reignite passion in the Springbok jersey. The creation of a winning formula did not happen overnight. Losses to England and Ireland led to serious questioning of his ability. Yet lessons were learned, a group of young players cultivated by White was promoted, and South Africa was rewarded with its second World Cup crown.

It is often said that more is learned from defeat than victory. Henry's record since 2007 has not been unblemished, with sporadic losses to South Africa and Australia, but New Zealand has continued to sit on top of the International Rugby Board rankings. Given its dismal World Cup record, it could benefit from more serious lessons being learned between tournaments. If analysed correctly, defeats can prompt a more exhaustive knowledge of strengths and weaknesses, more watertight tactics and more astute on-field leadership. Surely, for example, All Blacks need not wait to be told at halftime to kick shorter or hit harder in the collisions around rucks, as occurred on Saturday night, according to assistant coach Wayne Smith.

Dips in form and changes in personnel in the years between World Cups would soon be forgotten if success at the game's premier occasion was the consequence, and never more so than at Eden Park in 2011. South Africa has reason to appreciate that process. As much as it may pain many All Black supporters, it might not harm New Zealand, either.