Some All Blacks players are disappointed by former coach Sir Graham Henry’s switch of allegiance this week.
Henry, employed as a coaching consultant by Argentina for their debut in the Rugby Championship, has surprised by taking a hands-on role in preparing the Pumas ahead of Saturday’s Test in Wellington.
Earlier this week All Blacks coach Steve Hansen pondered whether Henry would spill some inside information about his old team to the tourists.
After seeing Henry decked out in Pumas gear and joining in tight huddles at the tourists’ training this week, Hansen was convinced.
“You’ve got Mr Henry there so he will have done quite a bit of analysis on us because he’s one of the best analysis men in the world,” Hansen said, when asked why Argentina would be better than in last year’s World Cup quarter-final loss to the All Blacks.
“He’ll be attacking us in possibly different places.”
Hansen said television news footage of Henry at Pumas training had caused a ripple among the players he coached to World Cup glory last October.
“Laughter, disappointment, I suppose. There was a whole range of emotions.”
Hansen was uncomfortable with Henry’s role but regarded it as a double-edged sword.
“You’re thinking, here’s a guy who’s been intimate with your team for a long long time and hopefully he doesn’t tell them everything.
“But on the other hand, it’s really exciting.
“Because he’s a great student of the game, to have him prepare a side to try to play against you, at the end of it we’ll find out if we have any weaknesses or not.”
All eyes will be on the Argentina coaching box on Saturday, where Henry has been invited to take a seat by Pumas coach Santiago Phelan.
The veteran mentor has not said if he will accept.