All Blacks: Henry stands behind breaks for top players

Graham Henry said he has received "no flak" for his decision to rest leading All Blacks players through all or most of the national provincial championship.

Ten All Blacks won't take to the field at all before the season-ending tour to Hong Kong and Europe while others re-enter the provincial stage at various stages - several for just one game.

Publicly, Auckland coach Mark Anscombe voiced disappointment that flanker Jerome Kaino won't play for his side while Manawatu mentor Dave Rennie has been surprised by his lack of access to first five-eighth Aaron Cruden.

If other coaches are unhappy, they haven't aired their views to Henry, who said he had received little feedback on the player availability issue.

"We just thought we'd make sensible decisions about players who have played a huge amount of rugby during the Super competition and now the All Blacks' season," Henry reiterated today.

"Most of them are starting players for the All Blacks team."

Canterbury lock Sam Whitelock has been included in the fully rested group despite clocking just 169 minutes in his eight test appearances off the reserve bench since June.

"He's been involved in the 22 virtually every game through the Super 14 and the All Blacks' season," Henry said.

"We think he's a young guy who needs a wee bit of space, just to get back that mental edge again and get himself right physically. So he's an exception.

"He's played a huge amount of rugby for a 21-year-old playing lock forward. It's very unusual for a guy to do what he's done.

"We're just trying to consider the player's age and the amount of rugby he's going to play over the next 12 months."

- NZPA