The physicality of Super Rugby could take a toll on players like Anton Lienert-Brown and Seta Tamanivalu of the Chiefs. Photo / Getty
Integrity of the competition is only part of the problem with Super Rugby's current set up. Player welfare is just as big, if not a more significant concern as four New Zealand teams battle their way through the bottleneck of competing for just one home playoff spot.
The impact of
that may not be felt immediately, but at some stage in the next few months, it will be. The toll of the last six weeks and the next four is going to bite the All Blacks in some form.
The worry for coach Steve Hansen is not so much about players being injured. That's a permanent risk in rugby that no one can control. Nor is there any evidence or reason to believe that players are more or less likely to be injured depending on who they play or the importance of the game.
What's of more concern is how much mental and physical energy is drained from them as they deal with the inequity of the competition. Already, some players critical to the national cause, have endured a highly demanding last six weeks. The Hurricanes, Blues, Crusaders and Highlanders had fierce local derbies the week before the June tests. The Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes and Crusaders were straight back into local derbies after the tests, while the Highlanders were on a long haul flight to South Africa.
This weekend will be another huge one for the four New Zealand sides that have already qualified for the playoffs. All four of the Chiefs, Highlanders, Hurricanes and Crusaders can finish top of the New Zealand Conference. It will be a knockout round before the quarter-finals. The physical and mental intensity will be extreme and won't relent until a champion has been crowned on August 6.
