Graham Henry has stepped down as All Black coach following the team's successful Rugby World Cup campaign.
Henry took over as All Black coach in 2004 and has been in charge for more than 140 matches in a career that included a series victory over the tour British and Irish Lions in 2005, five Tri Nations titles and three Grand Slam titles.
His last match in charge of the side was the All Blacks' 8-7 victory over France in the Rugby World Cup final last month.
The Henry era ends in triumph. We had mixed feelings over his reappointment in 2008, but he has answered his critics in the most emphatic manner with a Rugby World Cup win.
And the statistics show that he was pretty good at what he did; read on:
The 65-year-old finishes his All Blacks career as one of the most successful rugby coaches of all time: he coached the All Blacks to 88 wins in 103 tests for a winning percentage of 85.4 percent.
In this professional era, that is a fantastic coaching record; one that will quite possibly never be bettered. We didn't realise it at the time, but when we saw the All Blacks beat Canada in Wellington a month ago, it was Graham Henry's 100th match as coach.
And it seems likely that Henry will not be lost to New Zealand rugby; he is in negotiations with the NZRU over taking up a role as a mentor for New Zealand coaches. That's welcome news, because he has a wealth of rugby knowledge and experience to share which will benefit some of our up-and-coming coaches, including some who will have played under Henry at some point.
The outgoing coach has thanked his mother, his wife and his children, and then the two outstanding All Black captains of his era, Tana Umaga and Richie McCaw. It's a bit of a chicken-and-egg argument, but we have little doubt that both will credit Graham Henry for making them outstanding All Black captains. Graham Henry has been a loyal servant on New Zealand rugby for many years, and will leave with the All Blacks in the best possible heart; world champions.
Right; so who's going to succeed him?
3 comments:
Looks like a straight battle between the RFU and NZRFU for his services. Like you, I suspect, I'm hoping the NZRFU win that one...but for the opposite reason.
How long is it going to take for NZ rugby to recover from the damage this clown has done!
It won't be quick.
The other side of the world is still far too close! Does Mercury have a rugby team needing a loser?
Woh is going to replace Henry?
Please let it not be Steve Hansen. One of the great strengths of All Black teams of the (distant) past has been the different styles of rugby played by teams from throughout the country. Since the advent of professional rugby teams are `cloned' and we need to reinstate that variety in the National game
A complete change in the All Black coaching regime will be good for NZ rugby.
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