Sunday 30th September 2007
The All Blacks cruised into the quarter-finals of the World Cup with a crushing 85-8 win over Romania on Saturday, and now seek perfection in the coming weeks.
Final pool stats of four bonus points, 309 points for and 46 tries scored makes for impressive reading, and Graham Henry, whilst pleased with the stats, knows his side need to improve.
"I think going in to this tournament if we had thought we were going to win by these margins and scoring that many tries we would have been very pleased," All Blacks coach Graham Henry told NZPA.
"I think we are moving forward well. There are some deficiencies we need to work on, but the attitude is great, the spirit's great, the players are enjoying their game and we have no complaints at all.
"We know there will be huge challenges ahead, but that's what World Cup rugby is about."
Despite a hat-trick of tries for Joe Rokocoko and some fine attacking rugby against Romania the All Blacks struggled in certain aspects of their game. Henry is confident that they can lift their game in the business stages of the World Cup.
"Of course we want perfection," he said. "We want zero turnovers and to win 250-0 and that's what we try and do. We try and play the perfect game.
"They contested well and played with passion and physicality. The overall balance was pleasing but there is obviously some room for improvement."
Henry was asked if he was concerned that his team had not been tested sufficiently ahead of a high-powered quarter-final as they bid to win their first World Cup since their triumph in the inaugural tournament 20 years ago.
"We have no control over the draw and we are pleased with our progress. We just do the best we can in the circumstances.
"Are we worried? In the back of your mind you are always concerned about knockout rugby," he said.
"We've been involved in knockout rugby for about 20 years and we haven't survived so there is some concern. Hopefully we'll play well in a huge knockout game in a week's time.
"We've got strength of character and strength of mind. Obviously the opposition will try and stop us doing it, but there is a desire to play a high quality game and to win this tournament."
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