Henry happy after Welsh rout

CARDIFF – New Zealand coach Graham Henry was in upbeat mood after seeing his team begin their Grand Slam tour of the British Isles with a 41-3 thrashing of Wales but warned of a stern challenge when the Tri-Nations champions played Ireland in Dublin next week.

The All Blacks inflicted Wales’s worst defeat in Cardiff, running in five tries to nil, right-wing Rico Gear scoring a hat-trick and Daniel Carter producing a textbook display that saw the fly-half score all of the tourists’ other 26 points. It was New Zealand’s 18th successive win over Wales, the Six Nations Grand Slam holders, in a match marking the 100th anniversary of the fixture between the two rugby-mad nations.Wales’s hopes of beating the All Blacks for the first time since 1953 were severely dented by the loss of six players who were members of the British and Irish Lions party thrashed 3-0 in New Zealand earlier this year.ºBut there was no denying the quality of the tourists’ display, which featured a dominating performance from lock Chris Jack and encouraging debuts for prop Neemia Tialata and flanker Chris Masoe.”The guys played exceptionally well,” said former Wales coach Henry after Saturday’s lopsided Millennium Stadium match.”They prepared well right from the time we worked together in New Zealand they produced a great performance.”The Welsh defended superbly in the first half.They missed key players and would have been a different side with those Lions.”They’ve won eight in a row and I’m sure one game will not completely dent their confidence.”But Lansdowne Road against the Irish will be a very difficult encounter.I’m sure it’s very difficult to play over there.I’m sure the Irish are waiting,” he added.-Nampa-AFPIt was New Zealand’s 18th successive win over Wales, the Six Nations Grand Slam holders, in a match marking the 100th anniversary of the fixture between the two rugby-mad nations.Wales’s hopes of beating the All Blacks for the first time since 1953 were severely dented by the loss of six players who were members of the British and Irish Lions party thrashed 3-0 in New Zealand earlier this year.ºBut there was no denying the quality of the tourists’ display, which featured a dominating performance from lock Chris Jack and encouraging debuts for prop Neemia Tialata and flanker Chris Masoe.”The guys played exceptionally well,” said former Wales coach Henry after Saturday’s lopsided Millennium Stadium match.”They prepared well right from the time we worked together in New Zealand they produced a great performance.”The Welsh defended superbly in the first half.They missed key players and would have been a different side with those Lions.”They’ve won eight in a row and I’m sure one game will not completely dent their confidence.”But Lansdowne Road against the Irish will be a very difficult encounter.I’m sure it’s very difficult to play over there.I’m sure the Irish are waiting,” he added.-Nampa-AFP