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Rugby Union

Henry angered by under-strength sides

29/05/2007

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has blasted the northern hemisphere teams for touring with under-strength teams this summer.

Henry has named a strong line up to face France ahead of their clash on Saturday and feels that the game is being devalued if the best players from each side are not on show.

He said: "When sides are coming to this side of the world that are not as strong as they should be - that's not good for the game."

The former Wales and British Lions coach called for the International Rugby Board (IRB) to act because he feels it is affecting his own team's preparation for this year's World Cup.

He said: "The IRB needs to lead very strongly and work with the clubs in Europe to ensure we preserve this great game. At the moment there's not a lot of sign of that."

Many of the top players from Europe's top club sides have been given the summer off to recuperate from a long season ahead of the World Cup in September.

But Henry says there is a discrepancy in the system because he has to field a strong side when the All Blacks travel to Europe during their off-season.

He said: "The All Blacks team that went to Europe last November was the best All Blacks team we could put on the track."

Henry added that there needed to be better communication between individual international unions and that the IRB should be able to implement an integrated international calendar.

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