Rugby: Rest the last thing Mealamu is wanting

Keven Mealamu. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The Blues have their own version of rest and reconditioning for skipper Keven Mealamu.

He and prop John Afoa are the only forwards to be used in all 10 games this year and will suit up again on Friday for the side's next Super 15 duel with the Hurricanes pack.

Mealamu is due some time out but those opportunities are shrinking. Coach Pat Lam say he and his skipper are relaxed about that timing.

"When it is right for Keven and also right for us and also right for the All Blacks," was Lam's riposte.

"The big thing we have to realise is that we are managing load," he added.

"So Kevvie might be playing 80 minutes at the weekend but if we are doing 400 minutes of work out there [training] Kevvie might be only doing 200."

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Test blindsider Jerome Kaino had a spell against the Cheetahs followed by the bye week, while injury to Tony Woodcock and Anthony Boric has given them time away from the game. In the backs, Alby Mathewson, Stephen Brett, Jared Payne, Joe Rokocoko, Rene Ranger and Isaia Toeava have been involved in every match this season for the Blues.

The Blues play the Hurricanes this week then the Reds and Stormers before they have their second bye, followed by games with the Chiefs, Crusaders and Highlanders.

"There is no blanket formula for giving players some rest but there has been buy-in about its value," said Players Association boss Rob Nichol.

"The key thing is that there is lots of dialogue between parties and then no longer will there be frustration. It is about performance management at the highest level and we are confident it is so much more advanced than previous years."

Lam said his captain was feeling fine and his health and well-being was always monitored closely after each game and at the start of each training week.

"One thing is for sure, he doesn't want to stop and we have to make sure we are sensible around what Kevvie had to do," he added.

"It is not just about game time out there, it is ensuring he is well looked after and that is a week-to-week proposition as we go through."

Lam acknowledged that his inspirational captain would need a spell at some stage, so too Toeava, but that would occur when it was appropriate. The Blues still had six pool games to go, split with a bye, and then hopefully the play-offs.

"We would not put him out there if there is any risk of him feeling tired," Lam said. "If anything Kevvie and the rest of the team, we have not even peaked yet, we are feeling fresh, we are feeling good."

All players got niggles but the strength, conditioning and fitness trainers monitored them closely, adjusted their personal training loads and kept a close eye on all of them for any signs of fatigue or burnout.

The sick bay was quite full with Luke McAlister the latest to join with his ankle in a moon boot. He was very unlikely to be available this week.

Lock Anthony Boric was also doubtful because of his hamstring injury, Woodcock and Daniel Braid were each several more weeks away and Kurtis Haiu was having bone scans this week on the cancer found on his rib.

Halfback Toby Morland had recovered well after being dumped on his head against the Highlanders.

If McAlister did not recover, Brett would take over the goalkicking. It would be a challenge for him but he had shown "at times" he was useful.

There was no pressure from the All Black selectors to use McAlister at first five-eighths as the search for a backup to Daniel Carter continued.

They had seen McAlister play that role against the Lions and in other tests and had plenty of data on his ability, said Lam.

"And they are smart enough to realise that Luke has stepped into first receiver at times for us. It would be different if it was a young guy coming through but they have a lot of faith that he is happy doing the role he is doing for us.

"If he is playing good football, make his tackles, runs the show and kicks well, that's what they are after."