Henry happy for test of strength

Windswept and rainswept, all was hardly set fair for the captain's day runs at Lansdowne Road yesterday and, while Eddie O'Sullivan maintained the pitch was in excellent "top-of-the-ground" condition, if the worst of today's forecast materialised he admitted it will affect Ireland's game plan.

"It's very hard to pass the football over long distances in these conditions and if it's raining it's going to be slippery, so you have to adjust. There's no point in saying it doesn't matter, but it's not like we've had a dry track all week, so it's nothing new to us if it stays this way."

More pertinent is the challenge which the world's best team will throw down, encapsulated by the All Blacks' skill levels.

"Back when they won the first World Cup they were phenomenal athletes and they just ran over everybody because they were bigger and stronger. Everybody has pretty much caught up in that department, although we've a bit to go, but the one thing they have on top of their athleticism now is phenomenal skill and right through the team.

"They can all play with the football, they can all pass, they can all run and they all understand the game. They are a world-class side and they have the strength in depth to go with it, which is a scary prospect at the next World Cup for everybody."

O'Sullivan described today's referee Jonathan Kaplan as the best in the world and cited his superb management of the recent Currie Cup final as proof he is "top of the tree".

In light of his decision to give 30 players starting roles in the opening two legs of a potential Grand Slam, Graham Henry admitted: "There is a sense of vulnerability. We've come with an objective in mind and that has been well talked about. We have to go through the process of making sure we put that objective together and try to achieve the goals of the tour. This is part of it. So you don't pick your top XV every week, but we think that is a risk worth taking, obviously to achieve the major focus, which is to develop as many Test players as we can across the field.

"So we are walking the talk but in saying that this is not the strongest team we could put on the field. But we will only know how good these guys are under these conditions when we play them . . ."

Henry and Ritchie McCaw spoke of the warmth of their reception all week, revealing the hotel staff at their Castleknock base had lined up to wave them off on their transfer to the Westbury Hotel. Returning to where he made his All Blacks debut here four years ago was "pretty cool", according to McCaw, albeit now as captain. "It's a huge honour to be named captain . . . The whole squad is excited about this weekend. It's a challenge that I just can't wait to get into. You play Test rugby for challenges like this so it should be good."