Henry anticipates different England

New Zealand coach Graham Henry believes England try "widening the game they can play" by utilising ball-carrying players when the two teams meet at Twickenham on November 5. [more]

Lions Australia Tour 2013

New Zealand coach Graham Henry believes England try "widening the game they can play" by utilising ball-carrying players when the two teams meet at Twickenham on November 5.

England are looking to bounce back from five successive Test match defeats and coach Andy Robinson named seven uncapped players in his squad for the All Blacks clash.

Henry, whose squad leave on Saturday for their four-Test tour which includes two Tests against France and a clash against Wales, is anticipating a slightly different approach from England as a result of the selection shake-up.

"[George Chuter] is a ball carrier, [James] Forrester is an attacking footballer," he said. "I think Andy Robinson will be looking to extend the game that England can play.

"England have not had a lot of success lately and he may be looking at widening the game they can play."

But Henry insists the All Blacks would not be worrying about how the opposition played, and feels the tour is about progressing his own team’s game.

They are looking at the trip as a ‘road test’ for next year’s World Cup, staying in several of the same hotels, using similar travel movements and playing on three of the grounds to be used during that tournament.

"We are away for 34 days this time, and 53 days next year at the World Cup. We are looking at it as a road test," Henry said.

"Hopefully we’re improving. We are moving from the two-team policy to a 22-man policy on this tour. We will be looking at what is the best side for the Test concerned."

Whereas the selectors were insistent on last year’s tour that no player would play three Tests in succession, this year some players might appear in all four Tests.

"In some positions there is not a lot of difference between the players, so it might be a good thing to keep them competing," Henry said.

Previous story Tait cleared for England duty
Next story Smith expecting backlash