Fri, 12 Aug 2011 3:33p.m.
By Jim Kayes
So now the All Blacks test in Port Elizabeth is historic.
Graham Henry can all have the justification in the world (cup) for leaving behind half his regular test side but he can't avoid the simple fact he's thumbed his nose at the history and traditions that make rugby great.
Of course if he wins the World Cup all will be forgiven.
For 24 barren years that's been the Holy Grail for All Blacks coaches despite the fact it has no real relevance to who is the world's best team.
With this year's tournament in New Zealand Henry will need a bolt hole harder to find than his Waiheke Island bach if the All Blacks don't win.
And even more so now.
For as long as rugby has been played, tests between New Zealand and South Africa have been the pinnacle of the international game.
Titanic battles between the sport's behemoths. That changed when Peter de Villers brought his 'B' Boks to New Zealand for the test in Wellington and has changed again now the All Blacks squad to travel to South Africa has been named.
Sure there are World Cup concerns around fatigue, injury and travel, but shouldn't this test now be reclassified a 'friendly' given who Henry is leaving behind?
At the very least the Tri-Nations are now clearly the Trial-Nations as that's exactly what happened in Wellington and is happening again in Port Elizabeth.
They are World Cup trials, plain and simple. In no other circumstance could it be justified to leave behind the All Blacks captain, Richie McCaw, and their other best player in Daniel Carter, let alone the small posse that joins them in Owen Franks, Brad Thorn, Kieran Read, Conrad Smith and Mils Muliaina.
It will certainly be interesting to hear NZRU boss Steve Tew justify this weakened tour squad given his disappointment with the squad South Africa sent to New Zealand.
At least Henry is being up front about his decision to leave so many players at home and isn't hiding behind a veil of supposed injuries while his 21 players train in secret in Rustenburg.
Still, this is a defining moment for New Zealand rugby which begs the question - what should we call this squad travelling to South Africa? The Half Blacks, or perhaps the Almost All Blacks.
And maybe Adidas could release another jersey with one and half stripes' instead of the regular three. They'd have to drop the price though.
Meanwhile the pressure's increased on Henry (if that's at all possible) to win the World Cup.
If nothing else he has to show that his deliberate disregard for the values and traditions of test match rugby were worth it.