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July 29, 2010

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All Blacks irate at NZ photographer's gaffe

NEW Zealand assistant coach Steve Hansen slammed the appearance of a photograph of a page of the All Blacks' playbook in Australian newspapers yesterday as a breach of trust with the media.

The picture, showing the hand of New Zealand coach Graham Henry clasping notes detailing five different tactical plays from lineouts and scrums, was snapped during All Blacks training ahead of Saturday's Tri-Nations test against the Wallabies.

"At the end of the day you guys and photographers come to training and there are a few unwritten rules and the photographer has breached the trust. There's not too much we can do about it," he told local media in Melbourne.

"The good thing about it is yesterday was a defensive training day so we won't have to change our tactics too much.

"There are a whole lot of things that are going to happen on Saturday night and I don't think one photo is going to make too much difference."

The picture by New Zealander Scott Barbour - who works for Getty Images - was splashed across Australian newspapers accompanied by varying degrees of analysis.

The Australian newspaper concluded the All Blacks would target flyhalf Matt Giteau and wing James O'Connor in defense, while focusing on negating flanker David Pocock, whose ball-pilfering was praised during the 30-13 defeat of South Africa in Brisbane last week.

Australia's assistant coach Jim Williams said he had not seen the photograph but dismissed the idea that it would influence his team's preparations.

"I wouldn't read too much into it myself and I probably won't even bother looking at it," Williams told reporters.

"(It's) not going to make me take any extra precautions."

The Wallabies host the All Blacks at Melbourne's Docklands Stadium on Saturday in their first Tri-Nations clash for the season.

New Zealand beat South Africa 32-12 and 31-17 to lead the series from Australia.





 

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