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Northern Hemisphere sides not playing ball, says Henry

News round-up: New Zealand coach Graham Henry has criticised Northern Hemisphere sides who have selected under-strength touring…

Wed May 30 2007 - 01:00

News round-up:New Zealand coach Graham Henry has criticised Northern Hemisphere sides who have selected under-strength touring parties to protect their leading players in World Cup year.

Henry, who named a strong line-up to face France in the first Test in Auckland at the weekend, also urged the International Rugby Board (IRB) to act so that end-of-season fixtures in Europe did not affect tours again.

French coach Bernard Laporte is due to name his team for Saturday's Eden Park Test today after selecting a squad decimated by absentees because of the final two weeks of the national championship.

Players from Stade Francais, Biarritz, Toulouse and Clermont Auvergne were unavailable and, added to injuries, Laporte named 14 uncapped players in his 26-man squad.

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"I think the IRB needs to lead and lead very strongly and work with the clubs in Europe to ensure we preserve this great game and at the moment there's not a lot of sign of that," Henry said yesterday. "When sides are coming to this side of the world that are not as strong as they should be - that's not good for the game."

England had around 30 players unavailable for their series against South Africa, and the world champions slumped to a 58-10 rout in Saturday's first Test in Bloemfontein.

Wales omitted 18 first-choice players from their squad for the two Tests against Australia, but acquited themselves considerably better with a 29-23 defeat to a last-minute try in Sydney.

"The All Blacks team that went to Europe last November was the best All Blacks team we could put on the track," Henry said. "We're holding up our end of the bargain, we're showing a lot of integrity there."

Injuries have ruled out fullback Mils Muliaina, centre Conrad Smith, halfback Byron Kelleher, flanker Jerry Collins and hooker Anton Oliver for Saturday's game. The side is skippered by Richie McCaw and contains just five of the players who completed the 2006 international season with a 45-10 rout of Wales in Cardiff in November.

With the Tri-Nations on the horizon and the World Cup to be hosted by France in September, Henry said he was looking for Chris Masoe to cement his place in the back row.

NEW ZEALAND (v France, Auckland, Saturday):L MacDonald, J Rokocoko, I Toeava, A Mauger, S Sivivatu, D Carter, P Weepu; C Masoe, R McCaw (capt), R Thorne, A Williams, C Jack, C Hayman, K Mealamu, T Woodcock. Replacements: A Hore, N Tialata, T Flavell, R So'oialo, B Leonard, N Evans, Ma'a Nonu.