PREVIEW-Rugby-Henry under pressure ahead of Tri-Nations clash

SYDNEY, July 24 (Reuters) - Former Wallabies captain John Eales has questioned New Zealand's decision to reappoint coach Graham Henry after the All Blacks' failure at last year's World Cup.

Eales said he was surprised New Zealand stuck with Henry instead of opting for Robbie Deans, who took on the job of coaching the Australians after missing out on the All Blacks' position.

The two coaches will confront each other at the Olympic stadium on Saturday in an intriguing twist to a test match that could play a decisive role in determining this year's Tri-Nations title.

Media criticism of Henry mounted in New Zealand after his team's 30-28 loss to South Africa in Dunedin two weeks ago and Eales said he was clearly under far more pressure than Deans, who is still in the honeymoon period with the Wallabies.

"I think Graham Henry's a wonderful coach... but it (last year's World Cup failure) would have been playing on people's minds," Eales told a luncheon in Sydney on Thursday.

"I think it adds a bit more pressure on him than it does on Robbie."

Henry has been keeping a low-profile in the build-up to the match, opting to keep his team in New Zealand until Thursday rather than travel earlier to Australia to acclimatise.

New Zealand have had mixed results in Australia when they have stayed at home to train before but stand-in captain Rodney So'oialo said it would not be a factor in this weekend's match.

"I don't think it matters too much. It's the mental side of it that matters," he told the New Zealand Press Association.

"Travelling later in the week is a good thing. It's not a big trip."

CLOSING GAP

Despite the criticism, New Zealand will still go into the match as slight favourites after winning six of their last seven tests against the Wallabies and holding the Bledisloe Cup for the past five seasons.

The Australians believe they are slowly closing the gap on their Trans-Tasman rivals.

They ended a sequence of five defeats with a 20-15 win in Melbourne last year and have shown encouraging signs of improvement this season as Deans ushers in a new generation of players.

Both teams will go into the match without their regular captains but it remains to be seen who will miss their leader their most.

Wallabies skipper Stirling Mortlock was ruled out after being concussed during last weekend's 16-9 win over South Africa in Perth, while Richie McCaw's planned return from an ankle injury was delayed until the All Blacks' next match.

Openside flanker George Smith will take over the Australian captaincy while rugby league convert Ryan Cross replaces Mortlock at outside centre.

Timanu Tahu, another former rugby league player, comes onto the bench for the first time, while giant lock Dan Vickerman was added to the reserves for Hugh McMeniman after returning from injury.

Daniel Braid will start at openside flanker for McCaw, who has been out of action since injuring himself against England last month.

Braid's last test appearance for the All Blacks was against Tonga at the 2003 World Cup. He is among five changes to the starting team that lost to the Springboks two weeks ago.

Lock Brad Thorn returns from suspension while prop Greg Somerville, wing Anthony Tuitavake and outside centre Richard Kahui were also recalled.

Teams:

Australia: 15-Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14-Peter Hynes, 13-Ryan Cross, 12-Berrick Barnes, 11-Lote Tuqiri, 10-Matt Giteau, 9-Luke Burgess, 8-Wycliff Palu, 7-George Smith (captain), 6-Rocky Elsom, 5-Nathan Sharpe, 4-James Horwill, 3-Al Baxter, 2-Stephen Moore, 1-Benn Robinson

Replacements: 16-Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17-Matt Dunning, 18-Dan Vickerman, 19-Phil Waugh, 20-Sam Cordingley, 21-Timana Tahu, 22-Drew Mitchell

New Zealand: 15-Mils Muliaina, 14-Anthony Tuitavake, 13-Richard Kahui, 12-Ma'a Nonu, 11-Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10-Dan Carter, 9-Andy Ellis, 8-Jerome Kaino, 7-Daniel Braid, 6-Rodney So'oialo (captain), 5-Ali Williams, 4-Brad Thorn, 3-Greg Somerville, 2-Andrew Hore, 1-Tony Woodcock

Replacements: 16-Keven Mealamu, 17-John Afoa, 18-Anthony Boric, 19-Sione Lauaki, 20-Jimmy Cowan, 21-Stephen Donald, 22-Conrad Smith (Editing by John O'Brien)