Three tests in three weeks too much, says Henry

Three rugby tests in three weeks is too much, All Blacks coach Graham Henry says.

He said the 3-0 series drubbing of the Lions during their tour of New Zealand which ended this month was good preparation for his team's Tri-Nation series against Australia and South Africa, but it also took a toll and cost the All Blacks serious injuries in key positions.

Henry said it also showed how important it was for the All Blacks to be able to rotate players and have two world-class players in every position.

As the All Blacks prepared to leave tomorrow for their first Tri-Nations test in Cape Town on August 6, Henry said the rotation of key players would continue but it could make the All Blacks vulnerable.

"I don't think players can play three weeks on end at the sharp end of international rugby," he said.

"We showed with the Lions series with Richie McCaw, Aaron Mauger, Daniel Carter, Carl Hayman, Leon McDonald. They didn't play some of the test matches because they fell over physically and that is going to happen."

He said World Cup tournaments involved round robin games, quarterfinals, semifinals and the final.

"It means you cannot play the same team right through that competition. We couldn't play the same team in a three-match competition against the Lions."

Henry said All Blacks management wanted to ensure they had a strong team on the field for every match as they built for the Tri-Nations series and the World Cup in 2007.

"It won't be the same personnel. That is the strategy we are trying to develop going through to the World Cup.

"We have got to play them regularly outside World Cup competitions and in doing that we leave ourselves a wee bit vulnerable developing those players."

Henry said the Springboks and the Wallabies would test the All Blacks in the Tri-Nations more than the Lions had, and would show up deficiencies within his side.

He said the Tri-Nations was contested between the three best teams in the world but it would show up some "rough edges" in the All Blacks.

He said the All Blacks would get better.

"We are going to know where we are after the Tri-Nations as a measuring stick.

"Hopefully it will show some rough edges and things we need to work on. We are not the finished product."

The All Blacks leave tomorrow with no injury concerns after the Lions series although McCaw had a bug and did not train at two sessions in Auckland yesterday.

* All Blacks 26-strong squad for tests against South Africa in Cape Town and the Wallabies in Sydney on August 13:-

Backs: Mils Muliaina (Auckland), Leon MacDonald (Canterbury), Rico Gear (Nelson Bays), Joe Rokocoko (Auckland), Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato), Conrad Smith (Wellington), Tana Umaga (Wellington, captain), Aaron Mauger (Canterbury), Luke McAlister (North Harbour), Daniel Carter (Canterbury), Byron Kelleher (Waikato), Piri Weepu (Wellington).

Forwards: Sione Lauaki (Waikato), Rodney So'oialo (Wellington), Richie McCaw (Canterbury), Marty Holah (Waikato), Jerry Collins (Wellington), Ali Williams (Auckland), Chris Jack (Canterbury), James Ryan (Otago), Carl Hayman (Otago), John Afoa (Auckland), Greg Somerville (Canterbury), Tony Woodcock (North Harbour), Keven Mealamu (Auckland), Derren Witcombe (Auckland).

- NZPA