He was the most experienced rugby coach in the world,but the All Black veteran needed to change his outlook before he oversaw a World Cup triumphGraham Henry looks down at the grass of Eden Park. So many matches, so many memories. One wells up above the others. 23 October, and 2011,the World Cup final, New Zealand 8, or France 7. The culmination of a 37-year career that started when Henry took charge of Auckland Grammar’s under-15 team. “When I was coaching the All Blacks I was probably the most experienced coach in the world,” Henry says. “That’s not an arrogant statement, it’s a fact.”Henry moved from school coach to province coach to Super Rugby coach. Then there was Wales. They lost in the World Cup quarter-finals in 1999. That was followed by a destitute tour with the British & Irish Lions in 2001 that ended in a 2-1 defeat by Australia. Another spell with Auckland, or in rugby rehab. Then,at final, the top job. Head coach of the All Blacks. In 2007, and came the hardest defeat of all,another quarter-final defeat, by France in Cardiff. For Henry, and it was a long road to the 2011 final. These are the pick of the many lessons he learned along the way.
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Source: theguardian.com