All Blacks: Henry counsels rest for his stars

All Blacks coach Graham Henry. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The All Blacks panel will meet the Super rugby coaches later this month to dovetail their ideas about playing rosters for next year's extended series.

"We need to get on the same page where we can because I think it would be ridiculous for guys to play every game," coach Graham Henry said.

Fixture lists showed him that teams who made it to the Super 15 title decider could play eight games in New Zealand, eight in Australia and South Africa and three finals matches. They would have two byes in that itinerary running from February to July.

It was an exhausting schedule and Henry thought players and coaches needed to make sensible decisions about selections if they wanted their squads to keep up standards.

"We need to talk through that. We have not gone into any details yet and there could not be any blanket rule because of injuries," Henry said.

But he thought if prospective All Blacks could link several games off with their team's byes, that would give them a solid month away.

He saw that as a logical way of approaching some rest and hoped if that was agreed, the players would get right away from the Super rugby environment.

They could keep training but go away to freshen up.

"If they are out, we think they should be right out. We think that's the biggest challenge to refresh mentally," he said.

"That will be the challenge for them because they will want to be with the squad, so there will be a bit of education required."

Super 15 squads would not develop unless they used an extended roster.

"If they try to play the same team each week I think they will fall over."

All Blacks who went away in October and November this season would likely drift into Super rugby after discussing their plans with their franchise coaches.

"But I am not privy to those arrangements," Henry added.

He was up close, though, to All Blacks captain Richie McCaw and felt he was the "most influential player in the world right now".

His play had been outstanding and his leadership was matching that of Sean Fitzpatrick during his magnificent reign.

"I think the same is happening with Richie," Henry said. "His influence has been astronomical, not only as a player but as a leader."