KEY POINTS:
Rugby players need to play and combinations given a chance to develop, former All Blacks coach John Hart says.
Commenting on an All Blacks team shorn of Conrad Smith at centre for the second test against England on Saturday, with coach Graham Henry giving Richard Kahui a debut in the No 13 shirt, Hart said a test match was no place to gauge a player's ability.
Hart said giving North Harbour's Rudi Wulf a starting debut on the wing in place of Anthony Tuitavake was a little different and an exception because they were trying out players who were "pretty" even.
But with the opening Tri-Nations test against South Africa looming (on July 5), Hart said he would not have split the Ma'a Nonu-Smith combination in midfield which was growing well.
" I would have given them as much football together as I could.
"They (the All Blacks coaching team) have obviously settled on them, they have done well, both have developed very well, I would have kept them together.
"I don't see why we would play Richard Kahui when we are just trying to get a combination (going) and Conrad Smith is playing so well - I think there are some issues of rotation and some issues of their still trying to find who the best player is (for that position)."
Leon Macdonald, who did not start against Ireland and the first test against England, was now named at fullback for the second test and Hart questioned if it would have been better for him to run into a backline containing Nonu and Smith.
Without saying who would replace Kahui in the current All Blacks squad, Hart said it would be better for the Chiefs player to be examined away from the spotlight of test rugby - for example in the New Zealand Maori team in the Pacific Nations Cup.
"I don't think we should be using a test match to see if a player is fit or can handle it ... you make your (test) selection on the basis that they can (play at test level)."
Hart also said he was not in favour of rotating or "resting players" and they had been put in cotton wool.
"These guys are very fit and trained to be very fit - it is a matter of how you handle their training load rather than playing load.
"Players can play a lot more than they are - I don't share the view that they've got the Tri Nations (coming up) so we should rest people.
"I remember in 1996 we played seven tests in eight weeks in three countries - players can stand up and do it ...
"I know the game is different, we have to be careful comparing eras, but I do think we are taking an easy out - I think players can play a lot more than they are."
- NZPA
