White wants Boks to follow Henry's lead

PRETORIA - Jake White will implore South Africa's Super 14 rugby franchises and the national union to follow the All Blacks' lead and rest their top Springboks next year.

But the Springboks coach fears it will be easier said than done.

White observed with envy New Zealand coach Graham Henry's announcement last weekend that the leading 22 All Blacks would miss the first seven rounds of Super 14 next year to have them at their peak for the World Cup in France later in 2007.

White said the issue would be discussed at length after the Springboks finish their Tri-Nations campaign next month, but could see stumbling blocks if he suggested resting several players from each franchise.

"It works because New Zealand have got a draft system. I don't know whether it'll work in our country because we have franchises and players who are paid by their unions," he said today.

White said in an ideal world he would have his entire 30-man World Cup squad sitting out part of next year's Super 14 competition.

But that was not realistic because injured players needed match practice on their return to full fitness, and there would be a near riot from the five Super 14 franchises.

"In World Cup year we're going to have to work a lot harder together and compete with the All Blacks," he said.

"They're taking this World Cup very seriously, they know they haven't won it since 1987 and if you're going to compete against teams like New Zealand you're going to have to come up with something that's at least equal.

"We need to sit together as a group of coaches and chief executives and say if we're going to be competing at the World Cup we're going to have to work on a win-win situation where the unions and the players benefit, and the national squad benefits."

- NZPA