NEW Zealand coach Graham Henry understands the pressure his countryman and opposite number Robbie Deans is under ahead of today's Tri-Nations test against Australia at Sydney's Olympic Stadium.
Deans accepted the Australia coaching job after losing out to Henry for the New Zealand position and has admitted to having mixed emotions about the prospect of plotting the All Blacks downfall.
Henry coached both Wales and the British and Irish L
ions and although he never coached against New Zealand he said he understood the pressure Deans was under.
"I'd imagine it's not an easy job to coach a team against your own country," he said yesterday.
"I can understand that emotion and it'll be interesting how he handles it. It'll be good to be able to talk to him about it afterwards."
Henry has been under intense media criticism in New Zealand after his team's 30-28 loss to South Africa in Dunedin two weeks ago but insisted Deans was under far more pressure than him.
"My situation hasn't changed really, we've played Australia probably 10, 12 times since I've been coaching the All Blacks and it's another huge game against Australia," he said.
"There's obviously a wee bit more interest for you people and the public because Robbie's coaching Australia, and that's great for the game and great for the edge of the game. But from my point of view it's not personal, it's about trying to help this team play a top quality game of football that's good enough to win."
The Australians have been in great form since Deans took over this season, winning each of their four matches, including last weekend's Tri-Nations match with world champions South Africa.
However, the All Blacks are still slight favourites to win, having won six of their last seven tests against the Wallabies and have held the Bledisloe Cup for the past five seasons.
"Australia are playing pretty well, they're playing differently and that's to be expected, a different style," Henry said.
"We played Australia in Melbourne last year and got beaten, it wasn't that long ago. That makes it a greater contest and more even contest for the challenger."
Deans himself has admitted to having mixed feelings about facing his native New Zealand but made it clear there are no doubts about where his loyalties now lie.
"I'll feel emotion, there's no doubt, but I'd suggest everyone who's here will do that," he said.
"Yes I'm excited about this match, it's a big game, but this is not about me, it never has been. It's about the players."
Australia (v New Zealand in Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup, Sydney, today 11.05am; Live on Sky Sports 2): A Ashley-Cooper; P Hynes, R Cross, B Barnes, L Tuqiri; M Giteau, L Burgess; W Palu, G Smith (capt), R Elsom, N Sharpe, J Horwill, A Baxter, S Moore, B Robinson. Subs: T Polota-Nau, M Dunning, D Vickerman, P Waugh, S Cordingley, T Tahu, D Mitchell.
New Zealand: M Muliaina; A Tuitavake, R Kahui, M Nonu, S Sivivatu; D Carter, A Ellis; J Kaino, D Braid, R So'oialo (capt), A Williams, B Thorn, G Somerville, A Hore, T Woodcock. Subs: K Mealamu, J Afoa, A Boric, S Lauaki, J Cowan, S Donald, C Smith.
The full article contains 553 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
