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Prime Minister backs battered All Blacks
04.08.09
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has called on the country to rally around the All Blacks following two dismal defeats to South Africa in the Tri-Nations.
Saturday's 31-19 loss to the Springboks came a week after a 28-19 defeat and increased the pressure on head coach Graham Henry and his assistants Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith.
There has also been plenty of criticism of the game plan adopted by the All Blacks which saw them try to run the ball from deep in their own half despite the wet conditions in Durban on Saturday.
But Key said: "It's important that we rally around them.
"The team are rebuilding and as long as they win in 2011 at the Rugby World Cup that will probably work for me."
