IT'S three years since Graham Henry arrived in Wales to take over the hottest seat in world rugby - as he has found out to his cost this week.

The wheel has turned full circle because not long after arriving, Henry was hailed as the Great Redeemer.

He could do no wrong as he guided Wales to a post-war record 10 successive victories. He experienced the highs of a last- ditch Wembley win against England, a first victory in France for 24 years and a first victory over South Africa.

It was a stunning list of achievements and Henry was just about walking on water. But he has experienced the other side of the coin since then, and how. Wales disappointed in the World Cup and suffered hefty defeats at the hands of England, followed this autumn by shocking defeats against Ireland and Argentina. From being the all-conquering hero, Henry has become the villain of the piece, almost villified by some former players.

But he has been fortified somewhat three years on by the arrival this week of another New Zealander, Steve Hansen (pictured) from Canterbury.

Before Hansen first appeared officially, an awful atmosphere prevailed at a Press conference to announce the team to face Tonga today when the media objected to being kept waiting for an hour once again.

But once that was over, it was no coincidence that Hansen's intervention coincided with an upbeat Wales this week.

He wasted little time in putting one or two things right, like getting a tidy dressing-room, and he bonded with the players after interviews with the media on Wednesday by mixing in with a game of darts.

And training yesterday was open for a change, and it was pretty obvious there was an edge and a sharpness to it.

There needs to be because Welsh fortunes could hardly be lower - and the clash with world champions Australia is only eight days away.

Eight changes have been made, four of them positional, as Henry tries to get Wales back on track.

If victory last week was important, today it is absolutely essential. Wales have never lost to Tonga in five attempts and they can't possibly slide to their first defeat now.

The Tongans showed against Wales A at Llanelli on Tuesday that they will be resilient, typically tough tacklers and strong enough with their sprinkling of New Zealand-based players.

They will spread the ball and go for a mobile game because Tonga have clear deficiencies in the scrum, though their Maori coach Jim Love criticised both the refereeing and the scrummaging of Newport prop Chris Anthony after the A game, claiming illegal boring was going on.

But Wales intend spreading the ball as well, as was clearly evident in training yesterday. Most interest will centre on Iestyn Harris and his switch to inside centre.