Rugby World Cup
Henry excited by 2011 prospects
Scrum.com
December 2, 2008
Pool A rivals - New Zealand head coach Graham Henry and France coach Marc Lievremont shake hands during the IRB Rugby World Cup 2011 Pool Allocation Draw at Tower Bridge in London, England on December 1, 2008.
New Zealand boss Graham Henry (L) is looking forward to taking the host nation into action against Marc Lievremont's (R) France in 2011 © Getty Images
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All Blacks boss Graham Henry believes that hosting the 2011 Rugby World Cup will put New Zealand "on the map" as a host nation.

Henry's side, fresh from a Grand Slam tour, were drawn in the same group as their 2007 conquerors France, who raised the bar as host nation for the 2007 tournament. Should the sides meet in the 2011 tournament's opening game, and New Zealand will be hoping for a positive result on the field and a carnival atmosphere in the stands.

While the World Cup is still three years away, Henry said, "This is great for New Zealand to put ourselves on the map. We did that with the Lions in 2005, and this is going to be even greater. It's marvellous for the country and marvellous for positivity, which is particularly what we need in New Zealand.

"If it's a France-New Zealand opener to the tournament then great, give it profile." With the All Blacks' underwhelming World Cup record a constant source of irritation for players and fans alike, they have only won the tournament once, in 1987, there will be intense pressure to succeed on home soil.

"It is three years away, and a lot can happen in three years - teams get stronger and teams deteriorate," said Henry, following yesterday's draw. "The France versus All Blacks aspect in the pool is intriguing and will create a lot of interest. That is what we want in the game. It's nice to meet them in a pool game when not everything depends on winning."

Despite the inevitable hype that will surround the re-match, Henry currently sees his former charges in Wales as the main threat to the southern hemisphere dominance. "It is a bit cyclic and I don't think either hemisphere can lull in a false sense of security," Henry told BBC Sport. "And I think the Welsh are playing particularly well. They play an expansive game and they've got good athletes across the pitch, forwards who can pass and catch and beat people. So I guess they're the yardstick in this part of the world at the moment."

NZRU chairman Jack Hobbs believes that the draw and preparations for the next World Cup are a fitting way to end a dramatic season for the All Blacks. "It's been a pretty tough year," he said. "If you look back to February and where things were at (with the coaching controversy) and obviously we didn't get off to a great start with the loss to Australia in Sydney.

"But the coaches have done an outstanding job as we always thought they would do and Richie has captained the team magnificently. A new squad has stood up and grown. They're a close, talented group that still has potential to do better."

"We said at the very start we knew we'd have to work hard to win back the support and respect of New Zealanders and hopefully we've done that," he said. "We've had success on the field with the All Blacks and sevens, under-20s and New Zealand Maori ... and we've done some important work off the field.

"We're in a far better place than where we were in January and February and through that work we've been able to earn back the respect and support of our rugby public."

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