Super franchises ready to tackle competition without their All Blacks
New Zealand's Super Rugby franchises are content with missing their All Blacks for the entirety of the preseason.
Despite some push back after last year's directive that took All Blacks out for both mandatory rest and camps during the season, it seems franchises have embraced the change this year in preparation for the World Cup.
Blues assistant coach Tom Coventry and Chiefs assistant coach Tabai Matson both confirmed to Fairfax that they were in Steve Hansen's corner.
"New Zealand rugby is all around making the All Blacks strong, and Super Rugby is about developing players to be good for the All Blacks for the World Cup," Coventry told Fairfax. "We want them to be good for us as well, so there is a balancing act.
"We work closely with the coaching panel and trainers from the All Blacks who are in our ear all the time and making sure the boys are working in the right direction. They want them fit in September and we want them hissing in March. That's our dilemma."
Matson shared Coventry's view on the matter.
"Initially you might think it's really annoying but we want all our players playing well at the end of the season when it matters, and we want our players winning the World Cup for New Zealand," Matson told Fairfax. "We all understand it's a key part of New Zealand rugby and you find solutions.
"We all want to win in Japan [at the World Cup], and the Chiefs want to win on July 6. We're happy to find a common ground."
Coventry admitted it would be challenging for sides to play their All Blacks in week one after their omission from preseason action, while Matson is looking forward to seeing how teams handle that challenge.
"If the rest of the squad is seven weeks ahead, they've got to try catch up that time and there's only one way to be hardened for rugby," Coventry said. "They'll do it. They've come back off fitness regimes, they've just had a camp last week, and they're all pretty motivated to give us a hand."
"Some All Blacks will have different minutes and a graduated process back into fulltime, so they don't play 80 minutes from day one."
"It's a steep curve to play 80 after no pre-season, and injury risk is high. We need a plan on how we graduate them back in.
"The All Blacks who had big loads last year will all be well looked after."
"It's going to be fascinating seeing each franchise's strategy," Matson added. "Some will throw them straight in and know they can go from zero to 100 in game one, and others will wean them in. It will probably be case by case."
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The New Zealand performance in the return fixture in 2016 was filthy. A lot of Irish supporters were pretty shocked by it, viewed it as de facto cheating just to avoid another defeat.
Also shocked by the abuse to Ireland, captain, vice-captain and spectators after the full time whistle in Paris defeat, last match.
Sledging is sledging, but that happens during the game and targetting spectators should be completely out of bounds.
The Irish public used to enjoy these matches, even in defeat. Now they are necessary but unpleasant, because NZ apparently cannot accept or respect successful challengers.
Go to commentsThanks for the analysis Nick, thought provoking as usual. Couple of queries though, in the pic where you've circled Williams bind , I'm pretty sure it shows Stuart's knee on the ground, surely that's a NZ penalty? Also having had the chance to watch it again the All Black scrum seeems to improve after halftime, but before either England or the All Blacks replace their props. Not sure if that was the result of Tuipolutu coming on or some halftime tips. Either way this is only Williams second international season, so he'll be better for the experience.
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