Graham Henry : The X Factor

by Bob Howitt

Graham The X Factor (Signed)

1 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Bob Howitt is one of New Zealand's most celebrated and prolific rugby journalists and authors. He has written 16 books on the game, including the three volumes of Rugby Greats.
He has collaborated with famous players, coaches and, most recently, a referee on successful rugby biographies. Among the subjets he has worked with are Sid Going, Bryan Williams, Frank Bunce and Walter Little, Laurie Mains, Graham Henry and Paddy O'Brien. In 2004 he co-authored All Black Magic which celebrated 100 years of All Black tests.

Reviews

[Pennie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Plot summary: Autobiography of Graham Henry, New Zealand rugby coach. The book is written up until his 1998 appointment to Welsh rugby, with one chapter written by his wife Raewyn. Showcasing his rugby career from schoolboys to Colts to Auckland to Super 10/12.

Review. Boring! Didn't finish it! Couldn't finis it! I wanted to. I felt as a good kiwi, I should do. But I just couldn't! I guess if you knew more about the teams, players and games he's referring to, it might be more interesting. I'd read Yvonne Willering's autobiography with interest! But unfortunately I'm not really a rugby fan - I pretended to be when I was overseas but really I was just a good, patriotic kiwi! So, I'm sorry Graham, it's probably a good book you wrote there... just not for me!

[Clive Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book that was desperately needed by a rugby following that saw Graham Henry 'appear' from nowhere and knew little of his background. There was a feeling in the UK that politics and rugby politicians were spoiling and stifling the game. We thought it was our own personal problem and that all was well in the Southern Hemisphere. It was not. Politics and power can over-influence any sport and New Zealand's loss was Wales' gain. Graham makes it clear that he still has a love of New Zealand, its rugby and people and I don't think anyone would be surprised to see him return one day (not soon).

For those looking for an insight into his coaching methods this book is for you. The decision to come to the uk does not happen until about half way through and up until then we learn just why the Southern Hemisphere teams took off and left us behind. Graham himself takes stock of what he finds over here and explains his attempt to change methods, thought processes and beliefs. It is obvious from the book that he is not the type of person that would accept no for an answer when it came to change.

"He (Derek Quinnell, father of Scott and Craig) was concerned that divisions had formed within the Welsh team because half the players were on contracts and half weren't. He gave the example of the match against England at Twickenham the previous season: about seven of the players on the pitch were commanding salaries of £30,000 to £40,000 while the other eight or so were on nothing. There was a win bonus system operating, which was of limited merit since the team were losing more matches than it was winning. Not unnaturally, friction was bubbling under the surface.

The first thing I did, in association with the rest of the management team, was to restructure the whole system..........."

A nice touch in this book and one that could be used more in other biographies ,is the intermittent articles by other journalists, sewn into the fabric of the story and supporting what Graham Henry is trying to get over.

You definitely don't have to come from Wales to enjoy this book, a number of my English and Scottish associates have borrowed and enjoyed.