Chiefs boss Warren Gatland joins the call for change to All Black rules
Warren Gatland has joined the calls to scrap blanket rules governing the work load for All Blacks.
Gatland, whose Chiefs have made a brilliant start to the season, says Super Rugby coaches should be trusted to make the decision when players play and train.
All Blacks face set Super Rugby playing and training restrictions and New Zealand Rugby boss Mark Robinson says the NZR is open to reviewing the rules for next year.
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Gatland said his own decision to rest former test pivot Aaron Cruden – who is not part of the All Black protocols – for this week’s match against the Sunwolves in Japan is an example of coaches acting responsibly.
The Chiefs will also leave out All Black mainstays Sam Cane and Anton Lienert-Brown.
Highlanders assistant coach Tony Brown – like Gatland a former All Black – made a similar call last week, saying the hard and fast rules had cost players like Malakai Fekitoa, Waisake Naholo and Elliot Dixon their All Black careers.
Gatland told Radio Sport’s Jim Kayes: “They want those All Blacks, it’s a long season for them, they want to keep them in New Zealand as long as they possibly can, I understand they want to be well managed.
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“I have been on both sides (as a test and club coach). Part of my role in Super Rugby is supporting the All Blacks as much as I can. I want as many of my players to make the All Blacks.
“I think there’s a bit of a balance and probably at the top trusting the Super Rugby teams and coaches that we can manage our players well. We can look after them, and give them time off and rest.
“I’d like to see us work together – the people in charge need to trust us. If we don’t do a good job then don’t let us manage them.
“It’s not just the number of game, everyone loves playing the games, that’s the easy part.
“If we can get to that stage where there is cooperation in terms of that trust then I think that is the way forward. There’s a blanket policy for everybody but a lot of those players are in different situations.”
Gatland cited examples in his current squad including that of Brad Weber, who got very little game time for the All Blacks last year, and Damian McKenzie, who is coming back from injury.
Veteran players also required different treatment.
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“Everyone is in a different boat – some might need more than two games off,” he said.
Highlanders assistant coach Tony Brown said the rules have been correct for the likes of test greats Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and Kieran Read but wrong for others.
“In the past it’s cost a few players their All Black careers – if you look at the Highlanders Malakai Fekitoa, Waisake Naholo, Elliot Dixon, those sort of guys who didn’t get a lot of time for the All Blacks.
“Those guys getting rested as well didn’t allow them to prepare for Super Rugby, and their Super Rugby form cost them their All Black spot.
“There are so many good rugby players who get quality pre-season time. Sevu Reece came over the top of Waisake Naholo last year because of that.
“It’s got to be a case by case…we’ve got to have our top players preparing to play Super Rugby.”
Meanwhile Gatland said the Chiefs had experienced “a bit of luck” in the opening wins over the Blues and Crusaders, but he was delighted with his squad and their never say die attitude.
“We had to dig deep again as we did last week. They’re not throwing in the towel, not giving up,” he said after beating the champions in Hamilton.
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and was republished with permission.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Hey Finn, Well done to the Junior Wallabies…a win is a win but it was a wet and scrappy game. Would be interesting to hear your opinion on two things from watching the game at the Not So Sunny Coast Stadium. Firstly, what is your opinion on the rule change of being able to call The Mark from a kick off and what is the reason for the change? Secondly, your thoughts on the lack of action for the high tackle on the SA fullback. I understand the TMO ruled that he had fallen into the tackle and the tackler didn’t have time to adjust but it was clearly shoulder on head and the Aussie 11 had not made any attempt to adjust his tackle height leading into the tackle. In my opinion he was never going to get his tackle technique correct to complete a safe tackle. If that tackle was made at a more senior and more scrutinised level would we have seen the same result?
2 Go to commentsI don’t think this has been ventilated enough. Discuss. Perhaps the lessons in all of this is that, in the game of life, one should do all the talking on the field of play. And in the game of rugby, what’s said on the field - stays on the field. Take care of yourselves. And each other.
31 Go to commentsLow skills compared to the Junior ABs. The ball handling and ball retention of the SAns in particular was utterly woeful. The latter will be better on home turf.
2 Go to comments1. Heard this so often over the yrs. One Warriors CEO even claimed future kids wouldnt know which came first, the ABs or the Warriors. Always keen to talk themselves up. 2. That fella Barakat who says he will drop HBHS sponsorship because HBHS quite rightly wants its players to focus on rugby is an odd fit as a sponsor in the first place. As a recruitment official for the Warriors he seems to regard his sponsorship as a paid licence to help to select players from HBHS for the league side. Maybe he should find a league school to fund.
1 Go to commentsNZ U20s are the team to beat this year for sure. And how nice after so long that NZRFU is actually taking this seriously. For far too long they have been sending woefully coached and woefully underprepared teams to the U20 WCs. That Wrampling boy is a star in the making.
2 Go to commentsI agree ..come on keyboard warriors and journalists looking for a cheap win ….. only 2 mins to go 12 points down …this DID NOT decide the game and beside JM was hit after the whistle and in response it was a pat on the back of the head …harmless ….watch soccer if this is your issue
4 Go to commentsRest is for namby pamby sissies, I see. True men should overcome their trifling injuries by playing week in, week out. Bidwell’s stance reminds me of a Jon Gadsby character from the 70s, a rugby captain giving an after-match speech: “It was a very physical contest. One of our players caught a boot on the back of his head in a ruck, and he died, actually. But to his credit, he played on.”
1 Go to commentsI still see nothing in Sotutus play that hes changed his upright running style that failed so many times against decent international defences like the french. Other than that… Iose? Well you have covered his limitations well. If Sititi had been playing the the season… Jacobson? Grace?…Neither shout pick me. So Ardie it is.
1 Go to commentsThere isn’t one element you mentioned there that every top class or successful team gets up to. The great All blacks sides used to play on the ‘fringes or edge’ but it was essentially saying they were doing something illegal or borderline to gain dominance. The fine margins at the top are minute between the top sides. La Rochelle, the crusaders, Saracens, Toulon etc etc…..have all been accused. Get over it, the comment comes across as salty and naive. Northampton as well as they played to get back into the match were thoroughly beaten and controlled for 60 minutes and Leinster have only themselves to blame for kicking it away and hence losing control of the match and being nearly the architects of their own downfall.
2 Go to commentsThere is some talent coming thru thats for sure. The 10 looks special to me. Rico Simpson is a name to look for in the future.
2 Go to commentsI think this quiet honestly is just an innocent misunderstanding by someone who is pig sh*t stupid. Eben is a fine player but by christ, if he can’t understand or get what the Irish players were trying to say to him after the match…..well i hope he has someone looking after his finances, career and is reading the fine print for him, cause life after rugby may be quite difficult for the vacuous echo chamber.
31 Go to commentsIt could be Doris' day!
3 Go to commentsThe whole thing has blown up because Eben’s words have clearly struck a nerve in Ireland. Otherwise they would just laugh it off. I think some former Irish players, commentators and some Irish fans know deep down this Ireland team started to believe its own press and that a certain amount of arrogance had started to creep in during the World Cup. The topic was actually brought up by Irish pundits on Off the Ball recently. It’s fine to be arrogant if you can back it up. Ireland didn’t.
31 Go to comments‘The Irish are good people'. Why is Goode praising a people who hate his own? Wet wipe.
31 Go to commentsLa mejor final que se puede ver en el emisferio norte.
1 Go to commentsA lot of cope from south africans in the comments. Etzebeth is a liar and a hypocrite; you don’t have to defend him!
31 Go to commentsHe got big and really slow for a flyhalf…not sure he’s relevant in a bok conversation anymore
4 Go to commentsBest tourney team vs best team in the regular season for 3 games in RSA - talk is cheap, let’s see what’s what on the tour
31 Go to commentsOne overlooked statistic from their 2016 winning season is the Huricanes are still the only team in Super rugby history not to concede a try during the playoff rounds.
4 Go to commentsThanks for the article, Nick. The Nienaber blitz D does ask a lot of its scrumhalf. I have been watching JGP on D and he often looks like he has mastered what Nienaber asks for better than Faf de Klerk and Cobus Reinach! 🤣 Impressive season by JGP if I must make an understatement.
22 Go to comments