Robin Brooke: Resting players always rest-less

COMMENT

What strange days these are when we can rest some of our top players for a test against South Africa.

Ever since I can remember, our rivalry with the Springboks has been one of world rugby's most fierce and evenly contested. I was brought up on tales of the great tours of years gone by. I was lucky enough to have played 15 tests against them. They were hard, rugged contests.

But South Africa are going through a dreadful patch, perhaps their worst since returning from isolation in 1992. You can't see any result other than a resounding All Black win at Carisbrook tonight.

There was a time when you simply would not consider resting players against South Africa. But the game is changing. Coaches think more along the lines of a 22 for the test than putting all the emphasis on the starting XV.

I have no problem with giving players such as Richie McCaw, Chris Jack and Greg Somerville a rest.

They are the rocks in our pack and they have important challenges coming up at the World Cup.

All three are on the bench and I'd expect them to get some game time.

I'll bet if you asked those players, they would all rather be running out at 7.30 tonight. Players are like that, they want to play all the time.

Coaches have to look at the bigger picture and you can't fault what John Mitchell has done so far this year.

I know if one of my All Black coaches had said, "Robin you're having this Springbok test off," we would, shall we say, have had a debate about his decision.

But in World Cup year everyone appreciates that the result of tonight's test will mean nothing if we win the cup in November.

Everything has to be done with that goal in mind.

Carisbrook is a tremendous test venue. I loved my tests down there and the All Blacks have generally enjoyed plenty of success in the deep south.

It's an excellent example of a whole community getting into the spirit of a test weekend and I know from experience the players sense that and appreciate it.

I can recall some test mornings where half the terrace was full by mid-morning.

The students come out in force and they add plenty of life to the occasion.

It was also quite amusing that when you went down there and played in a blue jersey, you'd get a decent rollicking from the crowd.

When you went back in a black jersey a few weeks later the same people were right behind you.

One player I'll be taking a keen interest in tonight is Ali Williams.

He has been given a big chance tonight with Jack on the sideline.

His form in the past few games has been below his best, but now he's effectively been told this is his chance to be No 1.

He's not a junior member of the pack any more, he's our primary ball-winner.

With the Blues he was outstanding. Now with Jack inked in as a certainty, Brad Thorn breathing down his neck, and Simon Maling, whom I rate highly, back in the frame, the onus is on Williams to put his hand up.

His talent is not in question.

But tonight he has to show Mitchell and Robbie Deans and the other selectors he's the right man for the job.

They've invested time in him. It's Williams' chance to repay their investment tonight.