Partners stay home as World Cup staff trimmed

By WYNNE GRAY

The number of All Blacks staff will be reduced, invitations for partners to attend the World Cup have been withdrawn - and players could earn $40,000 each if they win the fifth global tournament.

Those contrasting financial plans have surfaced as some of the initial planning for the World Cup assault becomes public.

The Herald understands that sports psychologist Gilbert Enoka and masseur Lipi Sinnott will be trimmed from the regular travelling staff group.

New Zealand Rugby Football Union chief executive Chris Moller would not discuss individual employees.

Coach John Mitchell intends to run a staff of 11 - fellow selectors Kieran Crowley and Mark Shaw are part of the supplementary specialist staff list.

Moller confirmed that an invitation from former team manager Andrew Martin for players' partners to spend time at the World Cup had been withdrawn for ticketing and administrative reasons.

But as those cost-cutting and practical measures are being ratified, the NZRFU has set aside more than $1 million in bonus payments to players and management if the All Blacks win the cup.

Moller said the NZRFU would pay $2000 to each player if the All Blacks won all their pool games, $4000 for a quarter-final win, $10,000 for a semifinal victory and $24,000 for a final triumph.

The All Blacks intend being based in Melbourne for the entire tournament, flying to play other matches in Brisbane or Sydney.

The squad of 30 players will be announced on August 25.

The intended management group is Mitchell, Robbie Deans, Tony Thorpe, Dr John Mayhew, physiotherapist Steve Muir, trainer Mike Anthony, computer analyst Andrew Sutherland, skills coaches Daryl Halligan and Ross Nesdale, media liaison Matt McIlraith and NZRFU administrative assistant Bridget Hickman.