Rugby: Henry admits reconditioning during Super 14 was a mistake

Graham Henry said a conditioning programme will be held for the All Blacks in 2008 but it will not cut through any competition. Photo / Getty Images

Reappointed All Blacks rugby coach Graham Henry says the controversial pre-World Cup reconditioning programme wasn't a mistake but holding it during the Super 14 was.

He said the All Blacks' programme made it difficult to fit in a conditioning period for the team in the World Cup year.

"Pre-season fitness to get ready for a season of rugby is what we're talking about here, that is not a mistake - that is essential for players to play top rugby," he told Radiosport today.

"Everybody in New Zealand gets that opportunity apart the All Blacks because of their programme.

"We admit that it was a mistake having it during the Super 14 because it caused so much disruption. But I think everybody would agree there needs to be a pre-season for professional sports people."

Henry said a conditioning programme would also be held for the 2008 All Blacks but it wouldn't be cutting through any competition.

He also said a dropped goal attempt to win the rugby World Cup quarterfinal - that France won by two points to eliminate the All Blacks form the World Cup - was discussed and a message had been relayed to the team during the match.

But he said it was felt at the time the team should try to win the game through penalty points or a try as they had done under similar circumstances previously.

"Yes, we practised it (drop-goal) and the message went out but the team have been in that situation on a number of occasions in the last four years and won those games by putting pressure on the opposition - that was the first thought," Henry said.

"It wasn't about arrogance. (It's the) strategy we normally used. These guys are used to putting huge pressure on the opposition and winning through scoring points by penalties or scoring tries."

He described the quarterfinal as a "bizarre game" in which the All Blacks didn't have "the rub of the green or the bounce of the ball".

- NZPA