A fresh look for All Blacks

We will never know whether a mediocre Six Nations series counted in the decision to share the All Blacks' workload this season. Had Ireland arrived in New Zealand in June as the undisputed champions of the Northern Hemisphere, would that have altered the player rotation policy coach Graham Henry spoke so highly about this week?

You suspect not, given the similar strategies Henry and his selectors used last year with a 35-strong squad for the Grand Slam tour. They were not afraid to mix and match teams on that trip, staying true to their word when they picked an entirely different side against Ireland from the one which started the tour against Wales.

This year they are taking the concept a stage further as they deal with players' workloads and the need to increase the number of All Black test players.

"We want to give a short, conditioning break to any players who are involved in the Super 14 semis and final," Henry said. "It might not be possible in all cases, but that will be our goal for the majority of players."

On current evidence, the Crusaders and Hurricanes will make those playoffs.

The bulk of those squads picked for All Black duty will then be excused from the opening two tests against Ireland and primed for the next game against Argentina.

The All Black selectors will pick 39 players in their initial draft, with 24 of them available for the Ireland tests and the rest undergoing conditioning work before taking an early flight to Argentina.

"Those who do not play internationals get a much longer conditioning window in November, December and January," Henry said. "The test players do not start that work until January and it becomes a continual problem, injuries accumulate.

"Unless we address the problem more players will break down.

"We are trying to keep players fresh and our preference is for there to be no exceptions from that rule."

Given Henry's determination to rest and rotate his top players, the All Blacks could start their test programme with an alternate captain.

All the signs are that Richie McCaw will succeed the retired Tana Umaga as All Black captain.

McCaw has twice captained the All Blacks, against Wales and Ireland, during the two years of Henry's coaching tenure.

But as the skipper of a Crusaders side apparently destined for the Super 14 final, McCaw would qualify for a rest after that strenuous campaign. A substitute captain may lead the All Blacks out when they play their first test of the season against Ireland at Hamilton on June 10. At this stage the Chiefs, Highlanders and Blues look likely to finish outside the top four, with their players then getting a break before taking on Ireland.

While further injuries like those which have afflicted James Ryan, Nick Evans and Sione Lauaki will bite, a strong All Black test side can be selected from those three franchises.

How about this group?

Brent Ward, Soseni Anesi, Mils Muliaina, Sam Tuitupou, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Luke McAlister, Byron Kelleher, Craig Newby, Marty Holah, Troy Flavell (depending on his recovery from injury), Ali Williams, Tom Donnelly, Carl Hayman, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. That leaves out Doug Howlett, Joe Rokocoko, Niva Ta'auso, Neil Brew, Jimmy Cowan, Nick Williams, Josh Blackie, Daniel Braid, Greg Rawlinson, Bernie Upton, Anton Oliver, Tom Willis, John Afoa.

There will be others but the All Black panel will also include in their expanded 39-strong squad players like McCaw, Leon MacDonald, Rico Gear, Aaron Mauger, Daniel Carter, Mose Tuiali'i, Chris Jack, Greg Somerville, Ma'a Nonu, Piri Weepu, Rodney So'oialo, Chris Masoe and Jason Eaton from the Crusaders and Hurricanes.

There may be more, depending on the form of Andrew Ellis, Scott Hamilton, Isaia Toeava and Andrew Hore.

But there should be room for most because on the same day - May 28 - the All Black squads to play Ireland and Argentina are announced, and the Junior All Blacks and Maori squads will also be named.

What if the Blues make the playoffs? That's another story.


The game card

May
19/20: Super 14 semifinals
27: Super 14 final

June
10: New Zealand v Ireland, Hamilton 7.35pm
17: New Zealand v Ireland, Auckland 7.35pm
24: New Zealand v Argentina, Buenos Aires

July
8: New Zealand v Australia, Christchurch 7.35pm
15: Australia v South Africa, Brisbane 10pm
22: New Zealand v South Africa, Wellington 7.35pm
29: Australia v New Zealand, Brisbane 10pm

August
5: Australia v South Africa, Sydney 10pm
19: New Zealand v Australia, Auckland 5.30pm
27: South Africa v New Zealand, Pretoria 2am

September
3: South Africa v New Zealand, Rustenberg 2am
10: South Africa v Australia, tba 2am