Ted tranquil as World Cup countdown begins

BY GREG FORD

Get fretting people. Delay no more. The Big Countdown has begun.

As of Thursday, the largest sporting event to be staged in this country, kicks-off in exactly a year. The All Blacks will dip their toes back in the Rugby World Cup well. A nation will await their fate on tenterhooks.

Public expectation will be crushing. So spare a thought for coach Graham Henry.

At time when his peers seek safe haven in retirement, the wizened 62-year-old, New Zealand rugby's Big Kumara, will shoulder much of the load.

But Ted's not fretting. His blood pressure appears dandy.

He sat down with a handful of rugby scribes last week, me included, and radiated an inner calm; spoke like a man with nothing to lose.

Say hello to Tranquil Ted.

We've not caught sight of him (in public) since mid-2007, the year that started with such promise and ended in, well, you know how it ended – unmitigated disaster and the return of Grumpy Graham.

His redemption began in 2008, stalled in 2009, and came back to life in June of this year.

Everyone loves a winner.

The All Blacks sit atop the rugby world's mountain top and the best of the rest are scrambling to find a toehold.

Grumpy Graham never inhabits the past.

Not in public at least.

He lives in the now. There's no time to dwell.

When he does, his words can be taken out of context.

Old wounds are opened.

Grumpy Graham steers clear of dangerous ground.

Tranquil Ted levitates over. Sprinkles it with charm dust.

With coffee in hand, happy Ted talked about his seven years in the job.

All Blacks rugby is enjoying a purple patch, reminiscent of "2006 and 2007".

"We had established a very strong All Black side that had won virtually every game. We dropped what... one a year," he says.

"But we are in a different frame of reference, a different mindset now.

"The mindset of 2006, 2007 was that we had established ourselves and we could bring in players and give them an opportunity so if we lost players in the Rugby World Cup we had players with experience in international football."

Now it's about continuity.

Building depth in a different, dare we say it, traditional way?

And it's working a treat.

Just look at the All Blacks bench, the dilemma Henry faces each week when selecting his best 22.

It's proving almost impossible, just the way Henry likes it.

"I think the backs selection for the end of year tour is going to be extremely difficult and some very good players are going to miss out," he says. "At loose forward, yes, we have probably got half a dozen or more who could play international rugby. At lock if our friend Ali [Williams] gets back on his feet and plays that would be a real positive. But Sam Whitelock's development has been a very pleasing addition to what we are doing. Jason Eaton is going to come back later at the end of the Tri Nations as well and that will give us some depth there and the props are developing.

"Like Tony Woodcock is world class, Keven Mealamu has never played better and is probably the best hooker in the world right now and the tight heads; Well Owen [Franks] is 22-years-old and playing, I don't know, his 20th test? He must be getting up there and that is phenomenal really, and his brother is backing him up well. John Afoa played well when he came on [in Soweto].

"We don't have the same depth in the forwards but have made positive progress."

We now have in Richie McCaw our most influential leader since Sean Fitzpatrick. Henry goes further.

"I think he is the most influential player in the world right now," he says. "He has been outstanding.

"I can remember Fitzy, who was probably our last great captain, he grew into the job.

"He wasn't the bee's knees straight away but in the latter part of his career he was a colossus as a leader, and everybody around the world had their opinions about him because he was so successful.

"I think the same is happening with Richie. His influence on this group of people this year has been astronomical not only as a player but as a leader."

So much so Henry's redemption hinges on McCaw's fitness.

One senses there will be no repeat folly of trying to find a McCaw backup.

It's impossible.

McCaw is inimitable. Why even bother?

HENRY, TOO, is now indispensable. However, he too is a different beast. It's just a theory, but after watching and listening to him perhaps at 62 he's discovered some of his own limitations, realised even that his personality was haughty and domineering.

The All Blacks skipper hasn't said as much. But he's dropped enough hints to suggest the All Blacks leadership group is making the most of their licence to lead.

It appears Henry has refined his coaching art.

He now knows when to back off.

That trust has empowered his team and co-coaches.

"I think Steve [Hansen] is coaching the best I have every seen him coach. They are very together, that forward pack, and he has been very stimulating and on the job there.

"Wayne [Smith] has always had hugely high standards and has continued that, and I am sort of fiddling around in a strategic way."

Henry is also less insecure with the press.

As recently as last year he would greet questions about selection rationale and tactics as beneath him or unworthy of man of his standing.

Now they are welcomed, answered thoughtfully, sans the scowl.

Henry's ready for any test from any quarter.

He passed this week's with flying colours.

Some, not all, of his arrogance has gone.

But Ted's happy place is a very fine place indeed.

- © Fairfax NZ News