Little tip here from Brycy on how to stay competitive SA.
Am only telling you this cause i don't believe SA has the smarts to implement a programme like this anyway therefore it can do no harm.
Much has been made of the desire to develop players and grow the leadership group on the All Blacks' end-of-year tour. But, in the buildup to the 2015 World Cup, just as important will be managing the workloads of older players.
The All Blacks believe the best way to achieve their three key objectives of winning all four tests, preserving senior players and building depth is to use split squads.
Final numbers are expected to be signed off at the New Zealand Rugby Union board meeting this week, but the Sunday Star-Times understands the All Blacks' preference is to take 27 players for their first match of the tour in Japan.
Nine more experienced campaigners - the likes of captain Richie McCaw, veteran loosehead prop Tony Woodcock, integral midfielder Ma'a Nonu and hookers Keven Mealamu and Andrew Hore, will not make that initial journey. Later in the week nine players will instead travel direct to Paris and form a 36-man squad for tests against France, and England in London.
"We want to give some younger guys the chance to prepare for and play in a test match. By definition some guys won't go to Tokyo," NZRU chief executive Steve Tew confirmed.
"Who they will be and how many, [All Blacks coach] Steve Hansen will wait until we get closer to leaving and we know what attrition there is in terms of injuries."
The Star-Times also understands in the final week of the tour up to five players - those more susceptible to fatigue after another long season - will fly home early and miss the last test against Ireland in Dublin.
"We're still working through that and what is best for the team and individuals concerned. Our No 1 priority is to win the test matches, the other two are to build some depth and look after the players," Tew said.
These plans indicate rookies who are selected from the NPC for the test in Tokyo in November have everything to play for. If they impress, even against weaker opposition, continuing on to Europe they will have the chance to feature against three premier nations. By the tour's end competition for places should be intense.
With senior figures absent for two of the four tests Hansen will be able to assess those capable of stepping in to direct the team off the field during test week.
There is an element of risk involved. And, while integrating players at various stages and deciding who will sit out which tests will be a delicate juggling act, Hansen has shown the ability to make hard calls. Dropping Piri Weepu and Victor Vito were prime examples. All players ask for is direct feedback. That allows them to go away with clear objectives to regain their spot.
