By Jim Kayes
The All Blacks arrived home today, a season that kicked off in February now over – for a few weeks at least.
While the All Blacks had a mixed year, they did seem to get things right in Europe with the changes to the coaching duties working.
But are there more changes in the wind?
Graham Henry knows the forwards coach role is a job Steve Hansen wants back.
“Yeah, I've noticed that I've read that in the newspapers, we haven't talked about it. We'll talk about it in March/April next year,” says Henry.
“I think we're fairly relaxed as long as it's the best thing for the team.”
But five wins from five tests since the changes were made suggests it is working, with Henry taking the forwards and Hansen the backs.
“I think it's been stimulating for us, got us outside the comfort zone, given the players more responsibility and I think it's been positive,” said Henry.
The tour did not finish on a winning note with the loss to the Barbarians exposing the lack of talent depth, but Henry was upbeat.
“We won five test matches out of five tests and if we'd said that before we left we would have been delighted with that. We achieved what we wanted to achieve, the guys played better rugby and we strengthened the culture off the field.”
But the gap between the All Blacks top side and the next tier is a worry – especially as there are still no suitable backups for Dan Carter and Richie McCaw.
“We've got some players who played well who are new players to the team and others who would be disappointed in how they played, so we've got some depth problems in some positions,” said Henry.
But the selectors' door remains open.
“They've got another chance in the Super 14 next year. They've always got a chance for redemption.”
The Super 14 kicks off in just nine weeks.
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