It was a strange sight to behold on Tuesday: Former All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry in a Pumas tracksuit, helping the visitors prepare for Saturday's Test in Wellington.
If there were any doubts as to the extent of Henry's role with the Argentinean national side, they disappeared when he was at the centre of the Pumas training session in the build up to their third Rugby Championship clash at Westpac stadium.
The World Cup-winning coach has made it clear he will do "all he can" to assist Argentina in their quest to claim their first win over New Zealand.
"You can't misrepresent the role. I'm with the Argentinian side this week and next week and the two games (in Argentina) against Australia and New Zealand, as I have been for the previous three weeks," Henry told Fairfax NZ News.
"Helping with the high performance department and development of rugby is one role and the other is helping the national coaches in the role of coaching the Argentinian side."
Henry added that there was a chance he would sit in the Argentine coaches box on Saturday, but he doesn't expect any negative reaction from his countrymen.
"I think the New Zealand public are delighted one of the lesser lights of world rugby are getting some assistance," he said.
"I think it's different to helping coach one of the teams that's traditionally in the top echelon, like England or Australia or South Africa."
The All Blacks don't seem to have any no qualms with their former mentor helping out their opposition either.
Veteran scrum-half Piri Weepu accepted that Henry would have given the Pumas a few insights, but wasn't worried about with the impact his involvement would have on the tourists' performance.
"I guess he (Sir Graham) probably would have just told them what we are going to bring the table," Weepu told reporters in Wellington on Tuesday.
"We haven't spoken about it. We are just trying to focus on what they have to offer and work on that and make sure we come to the table with good preparation and we are ready to go on Saturday.
"This year is going to be a huge learning curve for them playing in a competition like this, so I guess they are just going to keep on playing like they have been over the years and make improvements on that.
"We already know what they are going to bring and I guess we just have to make sure we don't get fooled by what they offer us in terms of how they are going to defend and what they are going to do on attack. I guess we try and counter what we have seen so far and improve on what we have done so far.
"You can't really take them for granted. We know what they're capable of, they've proven over the past World Cup campaigns that they can match it with any team in the competition so for them to come out this Saturday, they'll definitely be proving that point.
"We've had five games so far and we've done really well, but these next two games are going to be a big test for us and we just have to make sure we go on from our last two games and improve on them and making sure that everyone ticks the boxes."
Comments
makemehappy says...
@ruckingkiwi - perhaps for one person (you), but I'll give it a miss - everyone else seemed fully capable of understanding :). Time to move on - you're onto a loser!
Posted 13:14 07th September 2012
jontheref says...
Darkest Horse
"A team that despite the world rankings would be my favourite to win the 6 Nations this season if they competed in it. "
It would be the 7N then!
:-)
Know what you are saying, but think they would finish 3rd or 4th, depending on the fixture rota.
Posted 11:23 07th September 2012
three6three6 says...
Rugby union is indeed an amateur game in Argentina.... However, their best players are world class professionals gracing the Big Clubs in Europe.... to think that this match is going to be anything other than a stern examination of the All Blacks credentials as Rugby Championship champions is nonsense! Los Pumas have performed really well against higher ranked nations over recent years..... they also have plenty of history having beaten ALL of the major rugby bplaying nations except for the Bokke and the All Blacks (whom they have drawn against on one occasion)
Underestimate Los Pumas at your peril!
Posted 07:29 07th September 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
makemehappy, thanks for clearing that up, however the structuring of your argument could use some work .. :)
Posted 02:50 07th September 2012
makemehappy says...
@ruckingkiwi - point is simple - they should have been therebefore.
@Nicotait - they certainly have been - watch the game again! Don't be so rude with your comments too please. I was partly supportive of the Pumas (of old).
Posted 13:23 06th September 2012
tweedledee49 says...
@georgesmith, *yawn* same story different....err....article...
Posted 08:42 06th September 2012
7ton says...
APV1
Maybe we could say the same for Zebre! LOL!
Posted 08:41 06th September 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
DarkestHorse, of course they are "one of the lesser lights of world rugby " , as GH has put it.. even if only for their experiences of playing in an annual tournament such as this. This format is new to them, sure their players are good and they're competitive as a team but their structures (i.e amateur domestic comp) and experience means Argentine rugby is still a lessor light unfortunately. Looking forward to this changing.
Posted 00:35 06th September 2012
APV1 says...
@ jonesy2 - aren't England the worst side in the world ever? Hmmm..?
Just remember how Italy fared when they first joined the 6N and how much better they're doing now. It might mean a few hard lessons along the way, but the Pumas are only going to improve by playing in the 4N.
Posted 18:18 05th September 2012
Rude_80 says...
New Article...
ABs need Henry in Pumas camp
Link
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10831878
Posted 14:59 05th September 2012
DarkestHorse says...
I just cannot get my head around the constant misrepresentation of Argentina in the media. Henry describing Argentina as a "lesser light"? This is not Romania we are talking about! It isn't even Italy! This is a world cup SEMI-FINALIST! A team that despite the world rankings would be my favourite to win the 6 Nations this season if they competed in it. A team whose players are significant figures at their respective European clubs.
I just do not get it. I thought them being admitted to the RC would finally banish the patronisers but it seems chief among them is one of their own coaching staff. How many more heroic feats does this team have to perform before it gains acceptance with an * beside its name.
Posted 14:20 05th September 2012
hellovanite says...
Henry has tickets on himself big time, he loves his own press, probably talks to himself in the mirror too...
Posted 12:10 05th September 2012
jonesy2 says...
haha sir graham england arent a top echelon side mate! argies are probably a better side than them, certainly a better side than ireland and france
Posted 11:28 05th September 2012
Bronco says...
@bothhands
Since when is he sir?
Since he was Knighted, genius.
Henry's entitled to do what he wants, I think it's great that he's helping out the Argies when he could easily command a massive paycheck from a second rate NH side.
Posted 09:21 05th September 2012
Ferdie says...
people talking 30-40-50 points on saturday; the only bet i'd make is that hansen and team would not be thinking figures like that, be a mistake to underestimate argentina this weekend based on two results against what has been a poor australian side
Posted 08:36 05th September 2012
Nicotait says...
@makemehappy with all due respect, the only embarassment to the game of rugby is you with that sort of comments.
The Pumas may loose by 30 points as you say, hell! they may even loose by 50, but they will never be an embarassment, remember that.
Posted 04:51 05th September 2012
Trader2 says...
It won't be this week but from what I have seen of the Puma's over the last few years they will beat the AB's before any of the teams that have never done it will i.e. Ireland, Scotland and Italy. (probably should include Wales in there as well as it has been such a long time).
Posted 04:04 05th September 2012
georgesmith says...
Sir G. Henry is the master coach. S. Hansen is the best coach and R. Deans is the worst coach.
Posted 01:59 05th September 2012
lalby says...
Vamos PUMAS. We are expecting to see ab's in La Plata with 50.000 people in a "friendly" reception at haka boys see you soon
Posted 22:36 04th September 2012
sebabustos says...
I agree with makemehappy that the Pumas will probably suffer a severe hiding; however, I do think there is room for improvement.
On one hand, the draw with a poor Springbok side was heroic for the Pumas (above their ordinary performance), so competing with the All Blacks or the Wallabies does not seem probable. On the other hand, playing frequently as a team and facing top-tier sides should bring greater quality and cohesion to the Pumas, who will never get to the SANZAR level, but should be a bigger headache in a couple of years.
Posted 22:25 04th September 2012