Henry puts exempt players on notice

Joe Rokocoko is one of the 22 players who will miss the first seven rounds of next year's Super 14. File picture / Richard Robinson

Coach Graham Henry insists that leading All Blacks won't get the chance to go flat in World Cup year.

The 22 players pencilled in for reconditioning programmes will miss the first seven rounds of next year's Super 14.

But Henry, who wanted them to sit out the entire three-month competition, yesterday made it clear that there is no danger of staleness setting in, and that any players unwise enough to assume their inclusion in the fitness regime means they have a free pass to the World Cup better think again.

Henry pointed out that the 22 will still have up to seven Super 14 games, three early-season home tests and four Tri-Nations internationals next year before the Cup starts.

"They haven't got the chance to go off the boil," the coach said yesterday.

"Some of their form may be questionable, and if it is they won't be selected."

Henry said the national selectors had settled on 22 as the ideal number to get the reconditioning period some time ago. The criterion for who should get it and who should be playing Super 14 from the start of the competition in February was straightforward: players the selectors felt would benefit from specific fine-tuning, "guys who were strong World Cup candidates who needed conditioning time to get their bodies right, and to get their minds right as well".

"It's going to be a period of self- development, physical development and skill development," Henry said.

He acknowledged some players will be disappointed to miss out, but identified only two as being unlucky - wings Doug Howlett and Rico Gear - and gave them a pat on the back.

"They missed out because we thought they were self-sufficient. Some of the others weren't," Henry said, without naming names.

Players would be put on individually tailored programmes and would work within their Super 14 franchises.

"The big thing is all the conditioning requirements will be well documented. Everybody will know what they are, so it's very transparent and we'll make sure everybody nails their requirements."

Anyone who hasn't done the work?

"They'll be back playing Super 14," Henry said, which translates into a cuff over the ear and a World Cup spot in the balance.

He praised the attitude of the Super 14 coaches, particularly Robbie Deans at the champion Crusaders and Colin Cooper at the Hurricanes. Between them, they have lost 13 players.

Of those who missed out, Henry said they were primarily younger players who would benefit from plenty of early matchplay next year. He cited Luke McAlister as a case in point.

"He's made huge progress and he needs to play. He needs to run the Blues. That's part of his development."

Others the selectors want to see in game action early in the year include Hurricanes centre Conrad Smith, making his way back from a broken leg, and beefy prop Neemia Tialata.

Others who fit that bill would include Highlanders first five-eighth Nick Evans, Chiefs loose forward Sione Lauaki and Highlanders lock James Ryan, who has bulked up in his time off for shoulder surgery.

WHO LOSES WHO

Crusaders 7 (Leon MacDonald, Aaron Mauger, Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Reuben Thorne, Chris Jack, Greg Somerville)

Hurricanes 6 (Piri Weepu, Rodney So'oialo, Chris Masoe, Jerry Collins, Jason Eaton, Andrew Hore)

Blues 4 (Joe Rokocoko, Ali Williams, Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu)

Chiefs 3 (Sitiveni Sivivatu, Mils Muliaina, Byron Kelleher)

Highlanders 2 (Carl Hayman, Anton Oliver)

* Players return for week eight of the Super 14, about late March.