Henry not impressed with Wallabies

 

This assessment was delivered at the annual Queensland Reds Long Lunch in Brisbane on Friday and could well motivate the under-fire Australia further.

 

"I don't think they're a better team today than they were in the 2011  World Cup," he said. 

 

"It's hard to look back and compare, particularly when you're not involved … but my gut feeling is they're not as good today.

 

"They've got a few injuries. [Will] Genia and [Quade] Cooper are quality halves – I know that Quade attracted a bit of attention but he's a quality rugby player – and then you've got Stephen Moore not playing, [David] Pocock not playing.

 

"When those guys get back on the deck that's going to strengthen the experience, know-how and ability of that team."

 

Henry led the All Blacks to a successful 2011 World Cup campaign where they lifted the Cup on home soil and he was happy to praise his former assistant, and now head coach, Steve Hansen.

 

"They're [the All Blacks] a better side now, they've got more depth, they've got some real quality players who've come on since then," he said.

 

"In the World Cup we played the fourth [choice] flyhalf [Colin Slade] and we were struggling to find the quality players in some of the positions. 

 

"I think there's more depth and Steve's done a great job and Richie [McCaw] is still the captain, so you've got continuity of people there who keep on getting better, keep on evolving, and their whole emphasis is questioning how they can get better. That's hugely pleasing."

 

Henry avoided questions about the security of McKenzie's coaching position but said the All Blacks would however write off their hosts at their peril. 

 

"Australia should have won [the drawn first test in Sydney] … then they had a [51-20] hiccup in Auckland at Eden Park," he said.

 

"I think that will drive them, I think they will galvanise from that result if they've got character, and I'm sure they have. Whether they're good enough is questionable, but I think they'll play with character."