Provincial plan is a tightrope

Graham Henry has used the Christmas break to sharpen his ability to read the public mood. Having won nationwide approval last year for re-introducing the trial, rucking and Brian Lochore, the All Black coach is likely to once again enjoy a boost in popularity after outlining his desire to see leading players feature against the Lions in provincial colours.

The Lions, after all, are a once-in-a-career fixture and Henry does not want to deny players the chance at having a crack. However, that desire to give players opportunities has to be balanced against the need to win the three-test series. The Junior All Blacks, New Zealand Maori and Colts are also in action during the Lions tour.

The thinking at this early stage seems to be swaying towards allowing provincial sides to field non-test All Blacks against the Lions.

The usual rules will apply to the front-line test stars. They will be wrapped in cotton wool, only unleashed on the night of the first test on June 25.

Discussions with provincial bosses have been looking at the big picture - broad-brush guidelines with specific detail to be hammered out in the next few weeks.

Under the terms of the existing collective, the All Black coach must name a 26-man squad which is trimmed down to the match-day 22 early in the week before each test.

Last year Henry was happy for All Blacks who were not part of the match-day squad to turn out for their clubs.

Henry has indicated to provincial bosses that he will again be happy for those not involved to be released. He's also suggested that players involved in the Junior All Black programme should be released to play for their province against the Lions if asked.

Chief executive of Auckland Rugby, David White, said: "We've been greatly encouraged by the discussions we have had so far with the New Zealand Rugby Union. They have been very positive."

Henry's thinking is driven by the knowledge he needs to strike the right balance between keeping his players fresh and match hardened.

The Super 12 final round-robin week is scheduled for May 15, the All Black trial is on June 1 and the only warm-up test, against Fiji in Albany, will be played on June 10.

There is a danger of some players on the periphery being selected on the bench for the first test having played very little football in the preceeding six weeks.

While others will inevitably be involved in the Super 12 playoffs, the trial and the Fiji test will therefore need to be carefully managed.

The Lions are bringing 44 players which will give coach Clive Woodward scope to tailor the workload of individual players. He has already talked at length about his belief that the 2001 Lions were undone by fatigue and a brutal travel schedule.

The provinces have long accepted they wouldn't have access to test All Blacks during the Lions tour. There was an assumption, though, that with the NZRU seemingly on a mission to relegate provinces down the pecking order, that fringe All Blacks, Junior All Blacks and Colts would be off limits.

So the stance of the All Black management team has been warmly welcomed.

Final agreement on selection criteria for the Lions tour will not be reached until the end of the month when the NZRU board next meets.

And the men running provincial rugby are aware that despite the promising talks, there is many a slip twixt cup and lip and the final ruling on selection could be greatly watered down.

This is a huge year for New Zealand rugby and the current All Black management team, with contracts up for renewal at the end of the year. Losing the Lions series would not help their chances of staying at the helm.

Nor, though, as Henry's predecessor John Mitchell discovered, would alienating the provinces, sponsors, broadcasters and fans during what will be the biggest rugby tour of this country.


- HERALD ON SUNDAY