Henry loses full All Blacks side to injury

BY GREG FORD

Our All Blacks are dropping like flies with a staggering 15 players who wore the black jersey last year out of action after only two rounds of the Super 14 - some didn't even make it to the season's start.

The alarming list includes three of the game's biggest stars: Dan Carter, Richie McCaw and Ali Williams.

Also on the physio's table are Mils Muliaina, Richard Kahui, Leon MacDonald, Brad Thorn and Andrew Hore.

Blues hooker Keven Mealamu is carrying a calf injury and was a doubtful starter in this morning's match against the Bulls, while Conrad Smith, Piri Weepu, Jimmy Cowan, Jamie Mackintosh, Rudi Wulf and Sione Lauaki have all missed Super rugby action this year through a variety of complaints, some old, some not.

Instead of being dismissed as just bad luck, a dismayed Hurricanes coach, Colin Cooper, was yesterday pointing the finger at the game's administrators.

Echoing the thoughts of his star centre Smith and New Zealand Rugby Players' Association boss Rob Nichol, Cooper said the modern rugby player's body was failing to cope with the demands placed on their bodies.

They were not given enough time to recover between seasons.

"Fifteen is a lot isn't it," he said. "I didn't realise it was quite that many.

"I probably shouldn't be surprised though. I think we are going to see a lot more of this unless something changes.

"I actually feel sorry for the guys, our top guys that play in the All Blacks, because they just don't get enough rest and recovery time and are not being given a chance to fulfil their potential.

"Something has got to change and change fast, because we are all losers out of this."

All Blacks coach Graham Henry has gone to extraordinary lengths to protect his players from burnout, encouraging Super 14 coaches to rest All Blacks, and practising what he preaches by doing the same during test campaigns.

However, some have either failed, or could ill afford, to heed his message.

Cooper has been one coach prepared to toe the party line, granting tired All Blacks dispensation.

"The team that manages its players best is getting the benefits [of rest], so there is a definite incentive to do it," he said. "But until things like travel load are sorted then this trend is just going to get worse.

"The sooner we sort the global game out the better for everyone, especially the players."

Negotiations on that front are progressing at glacial pace.

The International Rugby Board is due to meet later this year to discuss its options. But in reality there are few.

That's why the likes of NZRU boss Steve Tew have flagged the need to offer top players respite by resting them from selected campaigns, conscious that the fans are the biggest losers when mass injuries strike.

"I'm not making excuses, but injuries have a definite impact [on performance]," said Cooper.

"We have had to blood some young players as cover and, while I am happy with our progress, some of our slow start [can be attributed to the absence of the likes of Andrew Hore].

"If you use Conrad [Smith] as an example, that is his first game since the tour. With his groin injury he could not train with the team.

"That's just the type of scenario I face in managing them."

Weepu came through his first match against the Highlanders unscathed, but Henry was robbed of a chance to see him play against Cowan (sprained elbow).

Henry won't be fretting yet. The All Blacks' first game isn't until June and, with the exception of Carter, all his stars should be back on the park by then.

But that is little consolation to the likes of Todd Blackadder, who has been hit hard, losing McCaw, Thorn and MacDonald, while the Chiefs' depth is being tested now Kahui has joined Muliaina and Lauaki on the sideline.

Chiefs coach Ian Foster said: "I'm not sure about the injuries. I think all three will be touch and go [for their next match] in all honesty."

- © Fairfax NZ News