Former All Black coach Laurie Mains says not all 21 players ruled out of the tour of Europe were truly unavailable.
The new-look All Blacks named on Monday for tests against England, France and Wales next month feature 12 new caps, and coach John Mitchell issued another list of 21 players not considered because of injury.
Mains, the Otago coach, said yesterday that he suspected several players on the list - particularly from Canterbury - were being rested and that many would have wanted to tour.
He implied that Crusaders coach and All Blacks coaching co-ordinator Robbie Deans would have encouraged the players to stay at home.
"I believe that a lot of them are being rested; Robbie has really put his Crusaders into cottonwool, hasn't he?
"I'm sure there are a lot of players who would rather have gone. Wellington's Tana Umaga [who is going] is one who doesn't want to have a rest," Mains said.
"But in the Crusaders, Robbie's got a fairly tight control on that and I don't think they would have had too much choice."
Despite his comments, Mains said he was in favour of the changes, believing the selectors were giving themselves a wealth of options ahead of next year's World Cup.
"The NPC has shown up some players with fire and pace and I would like to think that the selectors are saying to themselves, 'Well, we may have some better players here, let's have a look at them.'
"For New Zealand rugby, I don't think that's a bad thing. A lot of those players did need a rest."
Mains was pleased with the squad, but felt there was a lack of experience in the forward pack.
He said he would have picked seasoned Otago loosehead prop Carl Hoeft, who he believed had finished the NPC strongly.
He did not think the relatively small forwards would be a problem.
"They're a big enough pack. When you look at the backline that's going to be there, they're going to want to play a fast-moving game. They want forwards who can get around the field."
He was pleased to see Otago captain Taine Randell given back the role of skipper. It was not significant that Randell had been shifted to the blindside flank after playing at No 8 for much of the year.
"I've had contact with him [Mitchell] all year," Mains said. "He's not been too concerned whether Taine plays at eight or six for Otago.
"One of the really important things is that Taine is a far more experienced player, and with a young team, I think he's an exceptional choice as captain."
Mains said he would have also selected out-of-form winger Jonah Lomu.
"It would be great if we could get him back to his best again for the World Cup. He's got that challenge ahead of him and maybe this will bring out the best in him.
"I'm a little bit concerned at the lack of wings that are there.
"There are only two wingers, so the pressure goes on Jonah now; he has to perform."
- NZPA
Unavailable list 'suspect' says Mains
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