By: Mike Hosking | Thursday, September 06, 2012 8:03 AM

I am detecting a growing unease over Sir Graham Henry.

Maybe it was the pictures of him putting on a Pumas tracksuit and huddling up with the Argentinian team. Maybe it was the news he’ll be sitting in the Argentinian box this weekend, or should that be the opposition box. One writer talked of betraying the ‘All Black spirit’, whatever the ‘All Black spirit’ means.

Maybe it was the praise from the Argentinian coach saying how good Henry was and what a difference he was making. Are we uneasy because were panicking? Maybe a bit of the Henry magic has made an otherwise ordinary side genuine contenders. Or maybe it’s just once again we are a bit slow to move with the times.

The greatest gift you can have and the most sellable in any marketplace is skill. In Henry’s case it’s global. Well, global where rugby is played. He is the best in the business and having seen through his job as coach of the previous side is open for offers. Two things out of that - why wouldn't he be, and given he is what’s wrong with that?

For all those finding it a bit odd or awkward or struggling with the ‘spirit’, whats he supposed to be doing? Did we want him wrapped up, unavailable to anyone forever? Were we going to pay him to turn up at Blues training and that's it?

Henry retires from the All Blacks not at the end of his run or old or beaten or worn down. He retires from the All Blacks at the peak of his powers. People will pay a fortune for that talent and knowledge, and who can blame them? The All Blacks aren’t machines. It’s not like he’s giving away patent secrets.

Think of it from a more generous perspective. If Henry does make a difference he’s making a difference not only to the Argentinians but to rugby as well. Rugby needs the help. The game is split into two groups – there’s a smallish group who can play and play significantly better than the rest, and then there’s the rest (and there’s quite a few of them but they’re not up to much).

For the sport to truly prosper internationally it needs more teams in the top group than there currently are. They don't get there by magic, they get there by being exposed to better games and better brains. So the Argentinians get to join the championship and get Henry. That’s good for the game. Keeping the secrets to ourselves serves no one. Being the only team that wins all the time because we have the best players and the best coaches gets dull.

So good on Henry. He’s making a living, he’s spreading the love of the game. So he does it in a different coloured tracksuit and come this week he’ll have some split loyalties. We’ll still win but the other side, and therefore the game, will be better for the experience and you’d only be being selfish if you thought otherwise.

Photo: Photosport