PARIS - All Blacks coach Graham Henry admits he has a better deal than his European test coaching counterparts in terms of player welfare but says it will count for little at next year's rugby World Cup.
New Zealand's opponents on this tour -- England, France and Wales
-- all comprise players at least two months into intense domestic and European club seasons and with no more than a week's proper preparation for the tests.
This has been put forward by English and French media as a reason for their substandard performances against the All Blacks in the two tests so far this month. England went down 20-41 at Twickenham while France were crushed 3-47 in Lyon last month.
The New Zealand Rugby Union and Henry has far more say over the well-being the leading professional players as they are employed by the union, not the provinces.
Henry has been given the all-clear to rest 22 key players through the first half of next year's Super 14 to have them physically and mentally refreshed.
"We're fortunate in our country that we've got central contracts. I've been involved in the situation here (as Wales and British Lions coach) where that's not the case," he said.
"From a national team's point of view it's a lot easier and a lot more focused."
However, he didn't think the issue made an enormous difference to playing standards in Europe. He pointed to Ireland's hammering of South Africa in Dublin last weekend and Australia's struggle to beat Italy in Rome.
"And England are world champions... so we're not in a position to throw stones really," he said.
"They've produced the goods haven't they?
"I don't think we should get blase about where we stand in world rugby. We're just trying to improve as a rugby team."
- NZPA
