Rugby: Missing semis won't hurt All Blacks

Former All Black prop Craig Dowd says the makeup of the Super 14 semifinals will have no bearing on the All Blacks’ season. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand teams are in danger of missing out on the Super rugby semifinals for the first time in nine years but two former All Blacks have rubbished the idea this could harm the national side.

The country's playoffs hopes go on the line tomorrow night, with the Crusaders needing to beat the Brumbies and the Hurricanes up against the Waratahs to make the finals.

However, former All Blacks Stu Wilson and Craig Dowd both agree that missing the semifinals could actually be a good thing for New Zealand rugby.

Wilson said if the worst case scenario unfolds and New Zealand is without representation in the Super 14 playoffs, then at least the players fronting up for the All Blacks will get a rest.

He said that will give All Black coaches an extra two weeks to assemble a team "instead of them travelling to South Africa and getting beaten up by the Boks.".

Wilson said key All Blacks like Richie McCaw, Daniel Carter, Andrew Hore and Neemia Tialata will get a nice rest before facing Ireland and Wales next month.

Dowd said if no New Zealand teams make it through it will have no bearing on the World Cup, the Tri-Nations or hosting the Northern Hemisphere sides.

"At the end of the day we're all focusing on the World Cup and these guys are only human, they're thinking about it too.

"The game of rugby and all athletes have their peak and if they're all going through their low points now, then I don't think it's a big issue," Dowd said.