Hey man, bring back Carl

BY TAINE RANDELL

OPINION: Graham Henry said during the week that the All Blacks selectors are looking at two overseas players to bring back into the mix for the 2011 World Cup.

Carl Hayman is the only one they should be really interested in.

While there is talk about Aaron Mauger and Nick Evans coming back, we're well stocked with inside backs given that we've got Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Luke McAlister and Richard Kahui.

I really hope Hayman is thinking of coming back for the World Cup.

He definitely left with unfulfilled potential.

He was the best prop in the world at the time and by coming back and reigniting his All Blacks career, playing a heap more tests and winning a World Cup, he'd go on to become one of the great All Blacks props.

I hope what he wants to achieve in New Zealand is to be an absolute great.

It's a different story for backs.

Their game doesn't grow in Europe, simply because the standard of play is poor compared to what we see in the Super 14.

However, I do think spending a few seasons as a tight forward in Europe is beneficial.

Invariably props come of age later in life. Rugby in the Northern Hemisphere is a real grind and that's what being a prop forward is about, just grinding it out mentally and physically each week.

So combine that with maturity, in terms of age, and Hayman would have a lot to offer ther All Blacks.

An imperfect 10It was a big decision by the NZRU to come up with a 10-team premier division for the NPC.

They've got a few issues in front of them about how they're going to sort it out but they have come to the right decision.

It's just a pity the NZRU has wasted a lot of time and money and lost credibility in concluding that what's best is something similar to what we had a few years ago.

It parallels the situation we had with the ELVs and all the ructions that were caused throughout the world. It's a shame that time, money and credibility was eroded with that too.

If you look around the world, rugby is flourishing and the countries that are doing well are the ones which have concentrated on their domestic rugby.

Look at France, Wales, Ireland and South Africa. They've all put a big emphasis on their domestic rugby and, as a result, the benefits have flowed from that.

It's just a shame New Zealand appears to be the only country in the world where we've degrading our domestic game. It's short-sighted and disappointing that some people haven't looked at the bigger picture.

One of the reasons the NZRU has played around with our domestic competition is because of player welfare.

It would make more sense for some of the top All Blacks to play the Super 14, then the June tests and Tri Nations and finish with the NPC.

For New Zealand fans, the interest in the end-of-season tours have waned.

We used to talk about how fantastic Grand Slam tours are but they happen every few years now and they've become ho hum.

We'd get far more benefit out of resting guys like Richie McCaw or Ali Williams for the end-of-the-year tour.

We should still send the All Blacks north every year but rest five or so players each time.

In 2002, I captained what was an All Blacks B team on tour and the northern hemisphere countries still got very competitive matches and all the tests were sold out, so there is no need to worry about revenue.

The NZRU has made it apparent that these tours are money spinners.

It's not about the jersey or tradition, it's about making money.

We're better off focusing on international rugby that's played in New Zealand and our domestic competitions.

One of the issues facing New Zealand rugby is apathy from the public and that's because their connection to the game is through a strong domestic season.

Because the NZRU has made the choice to chase the big bucks offshore, that's where the root of the apathy starts.

Stars at nightThe reality is that night rugby is here to stay.

Spectator-wise, night rugby is far better because during the day you've got club rugby or the NPC. Also it's proven by Sky figures that people like to sit down in front of their TVs in the evening to watch rugby.

However, the drawback is that the weather is invariably worse and the rugby is of a poorer standard.

Dunedin has got it right by building an indoor stadium and it should have been an onus on those who are also building stadia, that they should be covered.

We're building Eden Park and AMI Stadium without rooves and they're missing out.

I went over and watched the first State of Origin game at the Docklands Stadium in Melbourne and I was amazed at the comfortable conditions there were to watch the game and the quality of the game was so much better because the ball was dry.

We're talking about an entertainment product here and in the long run, we want to have the best rugby we can.

That comes from games being played in indoor stadia.

- © Fairfax NZ News