Top rugby players facing risk of burnout

DURBAN - All Black players need to be managed carefully throughout the NPC, says captain Reuben Thorne, or the end-of-year tour to Europe will be nothing short of an exercise in fatigue.

Coach John Mitchell is yet to make it clear whether he will take a full-strength squad for the tests against England, France and Wales on November 9, 16 and 23 respectively.

The smart money is on Mitchell selecting a group made up of the fresher players from his Tri-Nations squad and some fringe World Cup candidates.

Speaking before the Durban test, Thorne said the tour seemed a long way off and that test players would struggle if they played a full NPC season.

"The end of the year is always tiring, so we're going to have to manage it.

"It's up to the provincial and national selectors to monitor the situation and make sure the guys who need the rest are able to get it."

He called for clear lines of communication between players and All Blacks management so there would be no confusion over who was in danger of burnout.

"Fitness and tiredness are an individual thing. Some guys have played more than others and different positions also take less of a hammering."

He acknowledged he could be a prime candidate for tiredness himself.

Playing blindside flank, he is one of rugby's hardest grafters. He was at the heart of the Crusaders' 13-game Super 12 campaign and has played all eight tests this year.

- NZPA