Boks will rest top players for Cup

Jake White

As Graham Henry continues his player welfare crusade, South Africa is planning to rest valued players from next year's Super 14 to prepare them for the World Cup.

The enforced stand-down for the top-level talent has the approval of Springbok coach Jake White and will be trialled during this year's Currie Cup series.

The Springboks conditioning coach Derik Coetzee will test the bulk of the national squad after the Tri-Nations series in September and put them on specific programmes which will keep them out of the Currie Cup until they tour Europe in November.

"We call this a period of rest," said Coetzee.

"The players will be involved in our camp unless they've not been exposed to a lot of rugby this year. Just a few will be allowed to play Currie Cup."

That managed season will continue next year with White adamant his leading players will have a heavily reduced schedule in next year's Super 14."Players can't play so much rugby and then it's expected they must peak in a World Cup tournament," he said.

Henry has already picked up on the South African strategies this year while he laments a growing casualty list among his test squad. One example is the ageing but effective loosehead prop Os du Randt who has been eased through the Super 14 with the Cheetahs.

"They have been getting plenty of time off as they have a hierarchical system there which allows that to happen," said Henry.

Henry has become increasingly concerned about the injury and fatigue levels of some players in the Super 14 and has called for greater selection rotation.

He will overlook, "where possible" the Crusaders and Hurricanes for the opening tests against Ireland to allow them to recover and regroup after the rigours of the Super 14.

In the meantime, Henry indirectly criticised some coaches, saying some players were showing signs of uninterrupted rugby and the quality of play in the inaugural Super 14 was dropping. A broader philosophy of using an entire squad would help standards and player welfare.

"I think we have learned from the Super 14 that it is a very long continuous competition and there is a real need for player rotation," said Henry.

"Otherwise players are just going to fall over and I think there have been some signs of that lately."

White has expressed similar concerns about his wider Springbok squad and intends managing them carefully through to next year's World Cup in France.

"We've got a fantastic squad of young players and we must look after them," he said. "We've got to look after a group of between 20 and 24 players.

"If we manage them correctly, they can play at the highest level for the next four years, but we've got to give their bodies time to develop."

Coetzee had identified a general lack of strength in players during the Super 14. Conditioning and skills work would start soon on rectifying those deficiencies for the upcoming Tri-Nations series.

* Crusaders captain Richie McCaw is itching for action against the Brumbies in their match at Jade Stadium tomorrow night, reports NZPA.

The dynamic Crusaders and All Blacks loose forward, named yesterday on the blindside flank, said he felt well rested after two weeks' cooling his heels while coach Robbie Deans opted to freshen him ahead of the playoffs.

McCaw, who is widely expected to be named All Blacks captain in an announcement to be made from his club on Saturday, said he was excited about playing against the Brumbies.

Asked if he felt rested enough, McCaw said: "Well, you'd hope so, wouldn't you."

He said he was dying to get into the game while having to watch the Crusaders' clinical 35-17 demolition of the Bulls in Pretoria last Saturday.

With McCaw starting on the blindside, Deans has opted to put Johnny Leo'o in McCaw's usual openside position, while standout No 7 Tanerau Latimer, who scored two tries against the Bulls, drops to the bench.

Winger Rico Gear gets his first spell on the bench this season, while lock Ross Filipo is back from injury to take a place on the bench.