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22 miss Super 14 start
by: Lynn McConnell
Sportal
Twenty-two All Blacks will miss the first seven weeks of next season's Super 14 programme and it is expected Australia and South Africa will follow suit.
The controversial move was finalised today with the announcement that agreement had been reached with participating partners in the competition for the top-flight players to be released while 22 newcomers will be added to the affected franchises for the entire Super 14 season.
The board of the New Zealand Rugby Union made the final decision on Friday in Whangarei after consultations with the five Super 14 franchises, SKY TV, sponsors and the Rugby Players' Association.
Moller said the selection panel had put several options to the board for consideration, but the agreed compromise from the selectors was the system announced.
Coach Graham Henry said the ideal situation would be to have none of the 22 involved in the Super 14 season.
Henry was not concerned that players may go to the Rugby World Cup in France at the end of next season without a great deal of rugby.
He said that after the Super 14 this year the selectors had received a lot of jaded players for the international programme.
Compensation will be made to the franchises for costs incurred while coaches, who have as one of their requirements the winning of the competition, will be given an assurance of the effect of the move on their performance assessments.
"Trying to do our best at the Rugby World Cup doesn't come cheap," NZRU chief executive Chris Moller said.
Costs involved will be shared between the Union, franchises and the Players' Association.
The plan is intended to have the players physically, emotionally and mentally prepared to succeed at the World Cup.
Moller said there were some negatives with the move that could make it hard to be accepted by the public but it does provide an opportunity for 22 new players.
Henry said it was impossible for players to improve their conditioning while they are playing and by having their first break for some years after the northern hemisphere tour, they will have three months of intensive conditioning. Some skills work will also be involved.
The 22 players to miss the first seven games will be named at the end of the Tri Nations.