Rugby: Mils has doubts over long season

Mils Muliaina confesses he felt jaded when the Chiefs' season ended, with the World Cup still to come. Photo / Christine Cornege

All Black fullback Mils Muliaina has questioned the wisdom of changing the format of Super rugby to extend the season in a World Cup year.

The Chiefs captain has just completed his 11th season of Super rugby and was struggling to come to grips with the fact that the season was still going in July when last year it was over at the end of May.

"We're in July now, and, far out, we're still going in Super rugby," Muliaina said yesterday after completing a two-day training camp for All Black hopefuls not involved in the Blues and Crusaders teams contesting the Super 15 semifinals this weekend.

"There's no doubt it's been a long season."

He conceded he felt jaded when the Chiefs' season ended.

"The New Zealand conference has just been hard yakka. You come up against guys and you're just bashing the crap out of each other for provincial pride - it's been really tough." Muliaina has made 101 Superrugby appearances during a careerwhich included the transition from Super 12 to Super 14 in 2006.

The decision to prolong the season by expanding the competition to accommodate the introduction of the Melbourne Rebels and a new format has left him uncertain if it was in the best interests of the All Blacks.

"It is a World Cup year and you've tested out a new format. It might be a smart thing - you don't know - it is something different that you've got to contend with in a World Cup year.

"I think the guys are professional enough, and hopefully they are, to be able to come through it and play well."

Muliaina said he had recovered his energy after more than a week off and was looking forward to international rugby but he harboured doubts over the new Super 15 structure.

"I'd be interested to see how it pans out in the next couple of years," he said, adding that future seasons would also include a three-week international window in June, further extending the season.

He will join Japanese club NTT Docomo at the end of the season and said he he was making the most of his time with the national side.

- NZPA