New Zealand are racing against time to get ready for their Tri-Nations title defence after a scratchy start to the international season.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry was unable to contain his anger at his team’s early season form after they laboured to a 27-6 win over Italy at Christchurch on Saturday.
New Zealand struggled in their two previous matches against France, losing the first then narrowly winning the second, and Henry said they had their work cut out getting ready for the Tri-Nations with Australia and world champions South Africa.
”It was a very disappointing performance, I thought we lacked edge,” Henry told reporters.
”We’ve got a lot of work to do before we play Australia in three weeks time.”
Although the All Blacks were never in real danger of losing, Henry had warned his players before the match their international futures were on the line.
New Zealand have been hard hit by a crippling injury list this season but Henry said he was still disappointed with their effort in the second Test against the French in Wellington.
Backward steps
His frustrations were evident when he gave the players another verbal dressing down during the halftime break in Christchurch and again after the match when he fronted the media.
”We were hoping to build on the Wellington performance. We haven’t done that … we went back a couple of steps tonight,” he said.
”That puts pressure on the squad, it puts pressure on the coaches to get it right over the next few weeks.”
While the All Blacks were unimpressed with their display, the Italians were delighted with their own showing.
They have not won a Test this year and lost twice in Australia before travelling to New Zealand, but were still overjoyed with their effort.
The Azzurri were humiliated 76-14 by New Zealand in their last meeting at the 2007 World Cup and coach Nick Mallett said Saturday’s 21-point loss represented a marked improvement.
”Before you can go for wins, you’ve got to get close. When you lose by 70 points, you’re not even close are you?” Mallett said.
”We’re not going to come out and play the All Blacks off the park. That would be absolutely ridiculous to think that Italy is capable of doing that.
”But we certainly are capable of making life difficult and unpleasant. The All Blacks had to work hard for every try they scored and that’s my job as national coach, to make sure the opposition find it difficult to beat us.” – Reuters