Player fatigue back in the spotlight

On paper, the Blues and Hurricanes have shown the least regard for player fatigue among New Zealand's franchises as the mood of All Blacks coach Graham Henry darkens in the closing weeks of the Super 14.

The issue of player welfare, increasingly prevalent in the professional age, reared its head again this week when Henry voiced concern about how much rugby some leading players are being asked to play.

Reflecting on a growing list of injured All Blacks candidates less than a month out from the first test against Ireland, Henry lamented that some teams hadn't been wise enough with player rotation.

He wouldn't single out franchises but analysis of the playing sheets through 14 weeks of the regular season shows the Blues and the semifinal-bound Hurricanes have been inclined to stick with the same starting players while others have been more willing to embrace squad ideals.

Assuming the players named to start this weekend's round take the field, the Hurricanes will boast six players to have started every game and the Blues five.

Included in that group are Hurricanes flanker Chris Masoe, prop Neemia Tialata, halfback Piri Weepu and centre Ma'a Nonu, and Blues hooker Keven Mealamu, prop John Afoa and winger Joe Rokocoko.

All are likely to be included in the All Blacks' 39-man squad for tests against Ireland and Argentina.

However, Henry, who plays close heed to every player's workload, may feel the need to reduce their involvement.

The Hurricanes will play at least one more week, in next weekend's semifinals.

That will add to the season of All Blacks forward certainties Rodney So'oialo, Jerry Collins and Jason Eaton, who will have already started in 12 of the 13 round-robin matches.

H urricanes coach Colin Cooper gave an insight to his selection methods this week.

"Our philosophy is, you've got to lose form or get injured to lose a place," he said.

"These players are playing well and we're winning games."

That doesn't duplicate the Henry principle, who was prompted to speak out after prop Tony Woodcock this week joined Conrad Smith, Nick Evans, James Ryan, Angus Macdonald, Troy Flavell and Sione Lauaki in the All Blacks sick tent.

"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," Henry told The New Zealand Herald.

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

The Super 14 is two weeks longer than the Super 12 but Henry said it demanded significantly more of the players, particularly as rugby's brutal style evolved.

"We have three months of consistent rugby played at a pretty hectic pace with a lot of violent collisions out there and it is getting more demanding."

His endorsement of rotation wasn't just driven by his role as national coach.

"Quite frankly, I think sides would play better if they had that system."

This week South Africa rugby's manager of national teams Andy Marinos said 13 of the 24 contracted Springbok rugby players have chronic injuries, the result of over-exertion in the Super 14.

Reports have emerged that Springboks coach Jake White has at last been successful in his campaign to have national players skip the domestic Currie Cup competition. Provinces would be remunerated for matches played without their contracted Springboks.

The Crusaders, Highlanders and Chiefs haven't put heavy demands on as many players this season.

Only Chiefs winger Sitiveni Sivivatu, Highlanders outside backs Ben Blair and Neil Brew and tireless Crusaders flanker Reuben Thorne have started every game.

The Chiefs and Highlanders have been largely forced into their rotations through injuries.

Top qualifiers the Crusaders have adopted the most pure rotation system, aided by their impressive depth and lack of injuries.

Coach Robbie Deans is so committed to the strategy that star flanker Richie McCaw has been deliberately rested three times this year, including twice in recent weeks for two crucial matches in South Africa.

Whether Deans' policy is right or wrong, it can only be good for Henry's blood pressure.

* Busiest New Zealand Super 14 players through 13 round-robin matches:

BLUES

13 starts: Keven Mealamu, John Afoa, Greg Rawlinson, Isa Nacewa, Joe Rokocoko
12 starts: Nick Williams,

CHIEFS

13 starts: Sitiveni Sivivatu
12 starts: Sam Tuitupou, Marty Holah

HURRICANES

13 starts: Lome Fa'atau, Ma'a Nonu, Piri Weepu, Chris Masoe, Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore
12 starts: Isaia Toeava, Rodney So'oialo, Jerry Collins, Jason Eaton

CRUSADERS

13 starts: Reuben Thorne
12 starts: Leon MacDonald, Rico Gear, Daniel Carter, Mose Tuiali'i, Greg Somerville

HIGHLANDERS

13 starts: Ben Blair, Neil Brew
12 starts: Seilala Mapusua, Craig Newby, Carl Hayman, Anton Oliver

- NZPA