Union worried rotation has turned test matches into friendlies

Rotation hasn't just ended under Graham Henry, it has most likely ended forever as the New Zealand Rugby Union has expressed its first public fears it's reducing the Tri Nations to no more than pseudo-friendlies.

TV viewing figures for tests might be holding up but NZRU chief executive Chris Moller is aware of spectator apathy and has vowed to try and descale the World Cup's importance.

Moller said: "We recognise the World Cup is the jewel in the crown and as New Zealand hasn't won it for 20 years, it would be nice to win it. But there is a danger games in other competitions are becoming more like friendlies and we need to look at the domination of the World Cup.

"[Rotation] is definitely a balancing act. We will still want to build depth and experience but that comes with a risk at the other end around the audience appeal that drives the sport."

Moller's comments will be well received by a rugby public weary of wholesale All Black changes.

While even the traditionalists would probably accept the injury toll is now so high in test football that teams need to be prepared to build enlarged squads, there was a growing sense that All Blacks coach Graham Henry was perhaps overdoing the changes he made to his team during this year's first nine tests.

The chances of major changes from week to week would now appear remote as Moller accepts the policy comes with a commercial risk.

However, the underlying reason for rotation will remain - players are being put through a season that makes excessive physical and mental demands. And until an integrated season with a built-in off-season is in place, coaches will still be required to juggle resources perhaps more than broadcasters and sponsors would like.

Moller also revealed relations with the Australian Rugby Union have worsened, with the NZRU accusing the Australians of snitching to News Limited with false claims.

The Sanzar partners are understood to have met earlier this year and agreed to consult their domestic sponsors and broadcast partners about resting players next season. The Australians thought the meeting concluded with an agreement that once each country had detailed plans, Sanzar would reconvene and outline the proposals to News Limited.

The NZRU, however, announced its plans on August 19, believing it had no obligation to report back.

The union believes when News Limited executives met ARU chief executive Gary Flowers last week, Flowers suggested the NZRU had broken an agreement made by Sanzar.

Now Moller says the NZRU has asked for confirmation of the Sanzar meeting's minutes.

"We are adamant there was no agreement to come back together [before making an announcement]," says Moller. "We refute those claims and are not happy information has been passed to News. They have taken that information in good faith and we have concerns with that."