Little rest for cup-bound Wallabies
Little rest for cup-bound Wallabies
September 12, 2006
AUSTRALIA players will be rested for just one match in next season's Super 14 under a model that's in stark contrast to New Zealand's drastic World Cup plans.
The Australian Rugby Union is confident it will announce the states-friendly model in the coming days once Queensland and NSW sign off on the deal.
ARU high-performance manager Pat Wilson said leading Australia players would be forced to miss a maximum of one game and it would be at the discretion of the provinces.
"The top nominated players will only be rested from one game on a rotational basis," Wilson said.
"Around that game we will be looking at some rest from training activity as well.
"And the states can nominate which game."
The move, in far cry to the NZRU's controversial decision to rest 22 players from the opening seven rounds of the Super 14, has the blessing of Western Force and ACT Brumbies.
Queensland appears the only stumbling block with NSW chief Fraser Neill supporting the concept despite asking for minor "tweaking".
Queensland coach Eddie Jones believes his regular Australia players - full back Chris Latham and front rowers Rodney Blake and Greg Holmes - should be available for all matches, particularly his young props.
"Guys want to play more rugby. One of the reasons we have this new eight-team competition is because we're saying the guys don't play enough rugby," former Australia coach Jones said.
"If you look at our squad, young props like Holmes and Blake need as many games and scrums as they can."
New Zealand bosses raised the ire of Super 14 broadcaster News Ltd by announcing an All Blacks squad of 14 forwards and eight backs who won't be available for their provinces until round eight.
Among the players are seven Crusaders, including Richie McCaw and Dan Carter, but the importance of the World Cup is such that Crusaders coach Robbie Deans has backed the move.
"We want the All Blacks to win the World Cup and the current management panel have deemed this to be the most effective way," Deans said. "We're happy to support them to that end."
Wilson said the Australian model would be put to News Ltd after the two-month consultation process ended.
Regular Wallabies will be barred from pre-season matches and have a reduced off-season workload with the Super 14 kicking off earlier on February 3.
Wilson said an injury lay-off would count as a week off while the high-performance unit could step in during the season if a player's load became too much.
"We anticipate there won't be too many problems but if we identify a player who may need to be looked at specifically we'll do that in consultation," he said.
AAP