KEY POINTS:
Here is an earlier selection of Your Views:
Sharky
Henry has earned his reputation and record. We have been struggling recently due to the fact we are aiming to peak in October not July, as is usually the case. His job is to coach the All Blacks and in four years he has done nothing to show that he doesn't deserve our full support. Our job is to support him and the team. If Graham wants to rotate I say rotate! Go Black!
Vic (Perth)
When did Ruben Thorne suddenly "firm" to be the 6/lock bench cover. Troy Flavell has been outstanding this season. Really disappointing to see a player as dynamic as Flavell overlooked for a plonker like Thorne. Mauger and Thorne should both be dropped from the 22. Mils should play at outside centre and Evans should be fullback. Put Toeava on the bench with Leonard and MacDonald. The rest of the team looks okay so far.
Marboy01
I believe the views of the rotation policy has its merits and as for life there is no perfect method or system until the results are set in concrete. I would worry more if the All Blacks do not win this important match because it will play on the minds of the players but I do not want it to be a blow out in the margin because it's better to keep on the edge of your seat when it comes to the RWC. Go the All Blacks.
Australia
I agree keep rotating. But it won't make much difference the All Blacks are still not going to win the world Cup. One reason: Australia. Every time they play against Australia they all freeze. Their brains seems to go numb, legs weak and all they want to do is kick the ball out or if close kick for goal. I'm a avid rugby and All Black supporter but to me the game over the last year or so is becoming very boring. A year ago everyone was raving about all the talent New Zealand has. Where have they all gone? Is it the selection panel or coaching?
Grahame Ellis
The last time we did any form of rotation policy was with Laurie Mains and that year we went to the World cup final against South Africa, I do not believe we have seen the best line up yet. We change according to the opposition as is with the modern game, the strongest team for South Africa is not the strongest team for Australia or England.The proof will be the world cup, until then lets let him get on with his job and bring the cup back home.
Wopwop (Melbourne(
He just better hope it works. He has had his 4 years. No-one had 4 years since John Hart(the man who bought NZ rugby down).If he loses us another world cup he can look forward to abuse and ridicule for the rest of his life . He is knowingly putting sub standard players in the team .
Greg
Of course he's right,he's the coach..If he's wrong we fire him after we lose the world cup. Don't judge his processes before the event. We're doing it differently because we haven't won the World cup for years and if you always do what you've always done, you will always get what you always got...second third fourth.P.S GH wont lose the world cup for us, the players will if they dont front up on the day. He's given everyone of them the opportunity so its up to them now.
Peter Watkins
As far back as I can remember the All Blacks have been going strong mid year before the world cup. Then they've made a mistake or lost a game and the common response is that they peaked too early. Maybe Henry has got it right - I believe that the idea is sound but like anything it's not 100 per cent certain. What I do know though is that Henry is a better coach than me, and you, and you and maybe even you. So I'm prepared to trust him on this.
Ray (Penrose)
Go you good thing Graham Henry! He is obviously ensuring that 1999 and 2003 don't happen again. In both tournaments, we ended up throwing players out of position because we had no experienced back ups for injured players - with disastrous results. In 2007, Henry has created a team that is effectively "injury proof" by ensuring that we go to the world cup with a team of 30 experienced players. Now all we have to work on is winning our own lineouts and hitting the ball at pace in the backline.
ReggieRabbitoh
What is the big deal? Stop whining about nothing. Does three changes from the previous test translate as "rotational"? Everyone has had a bit of a run during the Tri-Nations which I see as essential for the "WC Squad". I think Henry has settled on his 15, with the exception of Macalister v Mauger (I can't decide either). He has given as much time as injury has allowed for Toeava to get the knack of things at test level and I like the way he is playing our hookers, starting with Oliver and bringing on Mealamu. He has also sorted out the third wing spot, with both given a chance - Dougie came out on type. What are the anti-rotationists going to say if Carter goes down in a 1/4 final and no-one else has played first five. Personally I would liek to see Evans have a run there prior to a WC 1/4 or semi.Henry is doing a fine job, leaving no stone unturned. Destiny rests with the players. P.S. Rueben Thorne is an admirable player but...
Anton Vernall (Seattle/Waikato)
The problem with Henry and the three puppets for the rugby union is that there rotation policy has been set in place to protect players from having too much game time, not to develop other options or apply pressure on the incumbent. To get maximum performance out of your players you need pressure from within the squad. This rotation/rest system is supposed to keep the other team guessing but in fact it makes it very easy to know who will be playing unless you select real competition for places. Take 6,7,8. We all know who will be playing, is Thorne and Masoe really applying pressure to the supposedly unmovable trio. Absolutely not, then why are they there? Choose players that can. Take 10,12,13. Is anyone confident our inside backs are superior to Aus after our depth developing rotation policy? No way. Our inside backs couldn't be further from an undecided mess. Our front row seems to be the only stable thing in the squad also the return of Keith Robinson. Our lineout doesn't have a problem with him there also his hardedge is priceless to an otherwise unintimidating pack. The back three pick themselves if fit, finally got the two right halfbacks, front row is solid if not the best in the world. But resting players in the ever changing game of rugby doesn't work, you play them and it's the survival of the fittest. You cant select your team a year out from a World Cup, rotate/rest them, remove them from a world class competition, reintroduce them, have them play poorly, then make excuses for there form then pick them anyway, the opposition is watching closer than we are. Now sitting one game away from the world cup we are all sitting there fingers crossed, hoping to beat Aus. This is apparently the best team we have bar a few injuries. We will never no what team we could have ended up with if we had made all the players fight for position. Now its do or die and there's no bigger game than a Trinations/Bledisloe double to sort the men out from the boys, just one problem if they are boys its to late to change, and if you cant win this you wont win a WC knockout away from home. My opinion is they have been in the wrong direction for too long and I truly believe Henry and co have tried to complicate something so simple they have out smarted themselves. Well done. I think this is one victory they will always take with them.
Sia Lemafa
I'm 100% behind the rotational policy in place. So we lost 1 game. This is no time to panic. The bottom line is the quality of player must be the same right across the entire team. That is to say there should not be a lesser of two evils. You take 2 or 3 stars out of any other World Cup contender and the difference is massive. Just look at Julian Huxley for Australia. I mean no disrespect but if I was an All Black I know I'd rather have to deal with him than Chris Latham. Mils or Leon MacDonald? Are you kidding me? I'd consider faking an injury rather than deal with either of them. I believe Graham Henry and the team are travelling nicely. Better we drop a game now than say in a world cup semi-final. 2003 must never happen again. I can see it now. We take France in 2007 and defend at home in 2011.Go the All Blacks.
Andrew
Deciding the top team should have happened a long time ago, especially with the world cup so close. With the top team decided the next step would be working that team to achieve maximum performance. Having said that though Henry's rotation policy has created depth in the team that will make us better off when the inevitable injures happen. But the best 15 players should always start the game, the team cannot be left to peak too late, not when a world cup is at steak.
Adam
Wow, this is what happened with the last guy who coached the All Blacks. He stuck to his rotation guns in the face of mounting criticism, lost one game and then lost his job. Good luck coach, I hope you win.
Kerry (Northland)
What's wrong with this country's rugby fan? National team All Blacks and its head coach Henry deserve a bit more support and respect for their efforts, not constant doubts and criticism. Give them a break. Media should stop Henry bashing - it is only helping opponents' mind game against AB. It is frustrating not to see their decisive wins, but Henry knows he is the one who will ultimately take responsibility for the result of the World Cup, nobody else. He and his management team would never introduce the rotation policy if he did not believed in it. Let him accomplish what he and his team started. Of course players may say they want to be picked all the time, but I believe they trust their boss and it is not fair that the Media always interpret it as they are against the policy. It is time to give them the biggest support like they never had!
Fili (Sydney)
The rotation policy was a great initiative considering the depth we have and the whole idea was to give as many brilliant players as much experience as possible to handle the big occasion and to find suitable combinations leading up to the next World Cup. But how Reuben Thorne continues to be selected is beyond me. He's had his moment [2003, as captain] and failed miserably. He has stalled the hopes and dreams of other far better-credentialed aspirants that would make far more of an impact than he has ever done. It's not funny anymore and Thorne is an absolute waste of space it wouldn't matter if we had only 14 players on the field while he was "sin-binned" for the whole game. The likes of Lauaki, Messam, Kaino, Gibbes or even Ormsby does alot more effective work that "stands out". Everyone talks about being positive and cheer our boys on no matter who's in the team but for mine, it is totally unfair to put up with the coaches' persistence with players who really don't deserve to be there. Sure, Henry can't pick them all but one wonders how there is one too many coaches to make "the" call. A lot of good players have missed out due to the inconsistency and confusion of the way the rotation policy has operated lately. You'd think by now, a crucial year, was to have the best team out there from the very first Test, especially when the reconditioning was given approval. As for the results ? More confusion and frustrated players. Last and not least, please keep the Bledisloe and Tri-Nations where it belongs. C'mon All Blacks!
Ryhal (Cayman Islands)
Only a retired schoolteacher could be this stubborn and autocratic. Wasn't it Henry who coined the phrase "put their hand up"? - a reference to a child and not a rugby player. These All Blacks are one of the greatest sides ever - on their best day. Recently, that day changes every time they take the field. Even current players are "concerned" at this. The pressure is enormous (deja vu 1991, 1995, 1999 2003) and they don't even know who will be playing! Every World Cup team in the past had a settled look about them going into the pool stage. Not this side. The luxury of having some of the greatest players in the world shouldn't have been abused. Pick the best side and let them prove themselves - constantly - at this stage. If the All Blacks win the World Cup (and it is now a big if) it will be despite Graham Henry not because of him.
Jonty (Hicks Bay)
It makes sense and I wonder why the plan hasn't been thought of much earlier. But why is it that so many people doubt the plan? Is it because it's something new? Is it because it's Graham Henrys plan? If the plan works and the boys bring back the Cup, we'll all be singing Henry's praises for his genius and guile. But the doubters won't say "Sorry for doubting you, Graham. We should have believed in you from the start." But, God forbid, should we not win the RWC, sure as the sun will rise in the morning, the doubters will find morbid glee in lambasting and publicly parading themselves spouting slogans from the lip like "I told you so, I told you so". A wise woman once told me: "Son, if you have nothing nice or positive to say about something or someone, don't say s***". I wish she would write in to the Herald.
Kevin Campbell
There is no doubt whatsoever that Graeme's conditioning program will pay dividends when it counts. It is already proven in many other sports. It is highly unlikely we would have had Peter Snell's or Murray Halberg's gold medals had they not embarked on a single-minded period of conditioning aimed at the major event they wished to win. What is in doubt is the rotation policy aimed at bringing all squad members into some form so that they all have game time. What is seriously doubtful is that they can form a cohesive unit when it counts. We would hate to play England, Australia or France with an uncertain or unfamiliar line-up when they have a settled and cohesive line-up. That is the big risk that the selectors are obviously prepared to take.
B-Dog (Dunedin)
Rotation policy should've stopped at the start of the Tri-Nations. We are falling behind the other members of SANZAR because the ABs are struggling to find any rhythm which comes with familiarity of playing with the same guys week in week out.
Richard
Thanks Wynne, for another confirmation that you don't know what you're talking about. Perhaps you'd like to refresh our memory as to your own achievements in elite sport?
American rugby fan
Man, if it ain't broke don't fix it. Pick the best team for the specific test. I bet if the WC is won, all mouths will be shut!
Graham Hansen
This rotation and cotton wool policy is rubbish and it will come back to haunt Henry. There is a big difference between match fitness and gym fitness. This applies equally to the mental side of the game. I am hoping we will bring the cup home but going on the past few performances this is starting to look very unlikely. I also feel the South Africans have made a similar mistake this close to the start of the cup. I guess time will tell.
Mike
Of course he is right. A coach would be an idiot to play his top team throughout the pool matches.
Byte from the terraces
It seems fairly obvious if you analyse the last three world cup efforts that this one has to be different. Is the rotation policy correct? We would be egotistical to say that we know now what will happen in Nov. The rotation of players seems to be the hardest pill for average NZers to swallow. I can only say I wish we had the same system when I was playing. There is a fundamental truth that is not brought up in these general debates. You can only peak twice in a year as an athlete full stop! Tired and wooden legs are a rugby players worst enemy. I think our team will be the better prepared side in France. I personally am waiting with baited breath for that moment when our players can finally give it their all. Will we win? Mmmmm, well if we can beat 16 men every single time we play - we will win!
Nick
Whether Henry is right or wrong is not the issue. The AB coaches have decided this is the best policy. This policy will not lose or win NZ the World Cup. Selections and the ability to play at maximum mental capacity at the right time at the World Cup will determine the outcome. Media and the public, almost from week to week, deciding whether the rotation policy is effective based on the latest test match result is just silly. Did the AB's lose the 2003 World Cup because they played too much or too little rugby, or weren't fit enough? No. It was down to incorrect selection and the lack of mental toughness at the right moment.
Danis (Auckland)
I think we are making way too big a deal about this rotation policy. Besides injuries the team is pretty set. The forward pack is solid besides Oliver/Mealamu, but I think it should stay Mealamu as an impact player, and the locks are obviously a problem only through injury. In the backs the only issue is McAlistair/Mauger but I have a feeling it is going to stay the former, and also centre, but lets be honest Toeava has played about 4 games there and only missed out through injury. We really haven't rotated as much as people claim.
Gee (Melbourne)
I can understand the reason behind GH rotating players. For players to be sitting on the sideline and being used sparingly is a waste of time, so why not use all resources to bash the opposition. My only concern would be combinations not being up to scratch. Had GH stuck with a core of 30 players 3 years ago, the passes last week would have stuck and every game would be 50 plus. It's great to know that the coaches can replace Dan with Nick, Aaron with Luke, Ice with Conrad and so on, but I hope the combinations are a lot more settled by WC time. These practice games for the AB's before the WC should (I hope) cement their structure, combinations and plays. It was the lack of experience for players in not-so familiar positions that had us crashing out of the 2003 WC. A lesson GH obviously took note of and has addressed through the rotation system.
To be honest, GH has created a lot of depth which will hold us in good stead for next year.
Go All Blacks.
Davord (Devonport)
My concern is with the wings. Is it just me, or did Howlett bomb that try last Saturday by not being positioned wide and flat to receive the pass from McCalister after he made his line break? Instead McCalister was blamed when in truth Howlett did not give him the right target. Rico Gear is the man for the job, clearly the best right wing in the country. Howlett spends must of his time being "busy" around the field these days, a sure sign of a winger with declining powers. The primary task of a wing is to finish off tries in the corner, something he has not been able to do for several years now.