Better Rugby Rules

Source: The return of rotation – Wynne Gray

Coach Graham Henry defended his policy of replacing players after such a decisive 37-20 victory in Auckland, as an investment for the start of the lengthy Tri-Nations tournament in a tick over a fortnight.

My Comments: A better investment would be more time building combinations in your best side, not your weakest.

Player combinations take many games to build, especially to handle pressure, just like in RWC finals. For example Conrad Smith and Ma’a Nonu have played two test matches together, and done well. Yet Conrad has been dropped from the squad for Richard Kahui, amazingly Conrad is not even on the bench.

Henry cant help himself, this is what happens when you don’t change your coach, he says he will change for better, but in the end he cant. It would be better to play 4 to 6 games with the best combination possible. There are 15 test matches this year for the ABs, I am sure bloody young players can be done latter after the best AB team is ‘well done’ (steak cooking analogy).

Sure there are no tours to blood young players, but you can use the bench after the game is near won to try out others.

 Rotation before the best team is well groomed is a mistake. AGAIN !

UPDATE1:

Source: ‘No rotating for Wallabies’ – Deans

Coach Robbie Deans has ruled out a rotation policy for the Wallabies despite the risk of player burn-out from a gruelling 15-Test schedule this year.

And despite concerns about the physical and mental toll on players following the Super 14 competition, Deans had no set plans to rest players.

“There will not be rotation as such,” Deans told AAP.

“There will be catering to our needs because we are not going to be looking ahead and putting less emphasis on what is immediately in front of us.

“We want to thrive in every instance.”

“Experience is valuable”

“I am not concerned about what has been, I am more concerned about what is coming.”

My Comments: O boy doesn’t this sound right, see what I mean about old dog same trick (Henry), Robbie Deans hasn’t won all those titles sitting on his arrrrse ! Then again is Deans doing the same thing as Henry but using smarter media spin, hmmm !

UPDATE2:

Source: Wrong time to split Smith and Nonu – Hart

But with the opening Tri-Nations test against South Africa looming (on July 5), Hart said he would not have split the Ma’a Nonu-Smith combination in midfield which was growing well.

” I would have given them as much football together as I could.

“They (the All Blacks coaching team) have obviously settled on them, they have done well, both have developed very well, I would have kept them together.

“I don’t see why we would play Richard Kahui when we are just trying to get a combination (going) and Conrad Smith is playing so well – I think there are some issues of rotation and some issues of their still trying to find who the best player is (for that position).”

My Comments:  I am not a huge fan of John ‘Been to RWC Twice for nothing’ Hart, but he has got this right ! Mid field is a vital combination, Deans knows this, and I bet he has this a possible attack point come Tri Nations. Remember Ma’a can’t kick, and can get communications a little confused. The two test matches played by Conrad and Ma’a have not been a great challenge to their mid field defensive skills, this exactly why they should have more time together. Or may maybe Henry will learn this when Mortlock sprints between Conrad and Ma’s and scores a match winning try!

UPDATE3:

Source:  Scene set for night full of fireworks – John Drake

Conrad Smith has revelled in consistent play with the Hurricanes and All Blacks. He is a heady player who complements those around him rather than dominating. Ma’a Nonu and the wings may miss his presence in Christchurch tomorrow night. Kahui has been on the selectors’ radar for some time and but for injuries would probably have been used earlier. I hope he is not another “project” like Isaia Toeava – thrown in the deep end without enough game time at the level below tests.

 Henry and Co will say they have little chance under the current structure to give the Kahuis of this world an opportunity other than in test matches. What a pity the New Zealand A and Juniors formats have been discarded as those are the places to blood up-and-comers and fringe players, not tests. The other alternative is to shuffle players between the All Blacks and the Maori team. I see Deans is doing something similar with Australia A and is resisting anything to do with rotation.

My Comments: Henry knows this, yet chose to ignore this advice. Once again you cant teach an old dog new tricks. Dam fool !