ABs reaping benefits of Kiwi system

ABs reaping benefits of Kiwi system

4 Oct 2012

JON CARDINELLI writes the All Blacks avoid mass injuries and burnout because the NZRU manages the country’s top players accordingly. Why can’t Saru do the same?

A good question was asked of All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster this week. Why is it that the All Blacks seem to sustain fewer injuries than their Australian and South African counterparts?

Why is it that we are now into month 10 of the 2012 rugby season and the All Blacks aren’t missing key players because of injury and fatigue?

‘We do it differently,’ was Foster’s curt reply. ‘And I’m not going to tell you exactly what that entails.’

Foster doesn’t have to, it’s no big secret. The New Zealand Rugby Union has long looked after its most prized assets, that is its players.

Through a central-contracting system, it ensure that the cream of the crop don’t play too much rugby during the Super Rugby competition. The national team is viewed as the priority, and to compromise the success of that national team wouldn’t make much sense. Right?

Unfortunately, there is a different outlook in South Africa.

Every union and franchise looks after its own interests. Top players are contracted to a union as well as to Saru.

What this means is that a franchise has the option to start a Bok player in every Super Rugby game. Ultimately it is the franchise’s success that matters most to the franchise, not the success of the Boks.

It’s for this reason that we have players who arrive for Bok duty overplayed and fatigued. For example, Andries Bekker has long been considered indispensable to the Stormers’ Super Rugby cause, and has started the majority of the matches over the past three seasons. That workload has taken its toll on his body, and injuries have prevented him from playing more games for his country.

There are other examples across all of the South African franchises, and the point is that if South Africa employed the same system as New Zealand, the Boks may have more fit players available for the most important period of the season, that is the Rugby Championship.

The current system has been a handicap to every Springbok coach in the professional era. The system rewards the franchises when it should be geared towards propelling the Boks to that No 1 ranking. It is something that incumbent coach Heyneke Meyer has also made note of on several occasions.

On Wednesday, Meyer pointed to the example of Richie McCaw, the All Blacks captain and veteran who will enjoy a six-month sabbatical next season. This course of action will prolong McCaw’s career, and possibly allow him to play at the 2015 World Cup.

The NZRU keeps tabs on all of the All Blacks throughout the Super Rugby season, and ensures that nobody is overplayed before they join the national set-up for the June Tests or the Rugby Championship.

It’s been an intense season, the most congested in history, and still the All Blacks were able to produce their best performance of the year in Argentina. They are now in South Africa preparing for a physically taxing clash against the Boks on the Highveld, and still there is a sense that they are favourites. Why?

‘New Zealand manages their players very well,’ Meyer said on Wednesday when probed on the subject. ‘You can see what’s been done with Richie McCaw, and there are overall not as many injuries. Everybody seems to be working towards a common goal.’

Keeping players fresh allows for continuity in selection, and as Meyer suggests the All Blacks were able to win the 2011 World Cup because of that continuity. There aren’t as many injury disruptions because the NZRU is doing everything it can to prevent burnout and fatigue-related injuries.

Every South African franchise is chasing results and trophies, and every team is inclined to believe that the more they play their best players, the better their chances of achieving those lofty objectives.

And in that unfortunately all too real scenario, the national team is the biggest loser.

By Jon Cardinelli, in Johannesburg


425 Comments

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  • 251.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 15:31 pm

    @poppa69-249: haha, in the past our squads had a lot of farmers in them but as our country has urbanised they find it harder and harder to adapt to being dumped in the middle of the worlds biggest sheep farm.

    :lol:

  • 252.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 15:32 pm

    @poppa69-237: I also used to whinge a little about everything the Boks were supposedly up against :) ; But being a long suffering WP/Stormers groupie has sorted me out.
    There are no valid excuses for dismal performances – the END.
    You win or you lose – the END.
    You often aren’t as good as what you think you are – the END.
    Other teams really do just pitch up and play better – the END.
    A bit of luck one game, means some bad luck in another game – the END.

    Sound the harps, I’m about to cry.

  • 253.WP-Forever: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 15:32 pm

    @rangerman-251:

    Ouch! :lol:

  • 254.gunther: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 15:32 pm

    @poppa69-249:

    we aren’t talking about the ballsacks here.

    their playbook has been lifted directly from the Dallas Cowboys.

    @Jeraldjay-246:

    that’s not his vibe.

    in an ideal world people like stbur hondo viewer garf and capo would be brothers.

    perhaps they are.

  • 255.WP-Forever: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 15:35 pm

    @gunther-254:

    From different mothers, though.

  • 256.gunther: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 15:40 pm

    @WP-Forever-255:

    Indeed and my buddy too much rugby would be the ginger step child.

    We could start a reality tv show.

    Keeping up with the Knoffelhuisens.

    Hang on I’ve got Ryan Seacrest on the other line.

  • 257.WP-Forever: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 15:42 pm

    @gunther-256:

    I somehow see a spot in that lineup being available for Casper de Vries.

  • 258.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 15:44 pm

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-252: shame more of your supporters couldnt grasp that simple concept … if yioure ever in Sydney, my shout..

    same for you ranger, oh thats right, us sheepshaggers scare you too much :lol:

  • 259.ryecatcher: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 15:48 pm

    @Brads-57: LOL.WERE YOU WATCHING THE SAME INCIDENT.

  • 260.gunther: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 15:51 pm

    @WP-Forever-257:

    Bruce Knoffelhuisen- South African Olympic Decathlon Gold Medallist 1976.

  • 261.ryecatcher: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 15:52 pm

    @rangerman-77: MACgUYVER
    loioks like he has false fangs.

  • 262.ryecatcher: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 15:56 pm

    @poppa69-97: Of course.But we exclude
    Dean Greyling from that population..

  • 263.ryecatcher: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 16:01 pm

    @poppa69-114: Jethro Tull played
    well against OZ.
    Can I suggest that we abandon this topic.And we might not
    talk of your naked winger in a bar.@NZINCHINA-150:

  • 264.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 16:04 pm

    @ryecatcher-263: :D bungle in the jungle? well, thats alright by me

  • 265.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 16:13 pm

    @WP-Forever-253: hehehe

    @poppa69-258: you shag sheep?

    thats disgusting but recognising you have a problem is the first step to rectifying it i suppose :lol:

  • 266.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 16:14 pm

    @ryecatcher-261: looks like he has a false brain to me.

    in fact his head could be used as a panic room.

  • 267.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 16:17 pm

    @poppa69-264: how did this sheepshagging nonsense start, any idea?

  • 268.gunther: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 16:18 pm

    @poppa69-258:

    the rest of pedigree’s supporters have barricaded themselves in an underground bunker complex somewhere in the karoo.

    drinking koolaid martinis.

  • 269.katman: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 16:19 pm

    @Transformation-267: Until you’ve lived on an island you have no right to judge anyone.

  • 270.gunther: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 16:19 pm

    @Transformation-267:

    Well it’s an island.

    So they were in trouble from the get go.

  • 271.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 16:21 pm

    @Transformation-267: i am guessing a kiwi got lonely one night.

    or very drunk.

    anyway, its sounds like pops is going to get it sorted out :lol:

  • 272.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 16:22 pm

    @Transformation-267: like a blind castrated springbokke, I have no fcken idea how it started Trans :) maybe because there is something like 60 million in the country, who knows?

    @gunther-268: reference is lost on me, did WP lose or something?

  • 273.ryecatcher: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 16:37 pm

    @rangerman-266: LOL Somebody
    asked about what type of occupations our players had.
    I think that Dean is a redeyed abbatoir slaughterer. Standing in a pool of blood.S hit,he embarassed me.

  • 274.ryecatcher: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 16:42 pm

    @rangerman-265: You should see some of those sheep.Attractive as hell.And supply exceeds demand.

  • 275.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 16:50 pm

    @ryecatcher-274: Buyers market.

  • 276.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 16:54 pm

    apparently us kiwis have the problem, yet saffas are the only ones talking about attractive sheep :shock:

  • 277.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 16:56 pm

    @poppa69-276: Sharks supporters mostly.

  • 278.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 16:56 pm

    @poppa69-276: you brought it up buddy.

    missing home? :lol:

  • 279.gunther: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 16:56 pm

    @poppa69-272:

    Mad Dog is nuttier than one of Elvis Presley’s sarmies.

    She is tuning into a David icke podcast as we speak.

  • 280.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 16:58 pm

    @stormersboy-277: :lol:

    ja ja why bother sheep if you have hairdressers right stormerfan?

    :lol:

  • 281.gunther: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 17:06 pm

    @rangerman-280:

    Leave Grantie out of this.

  • 282.ryecatcher: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 17:08 pm

    @ryecatcher-273: Sorry Dean.Not nice

  • 283.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 17:09 pm

    @gunther-281: :lol:

    woof will be here shortly to tell you grant does his own hair :lol:

  • 284.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 17:11 pm

    @ryecatcher-282: lol

  • 285.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 17:12 pm

    @poppa69-276: familiarity breeds contempt?

    i don’t know

  • 286.katman: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 17:15 pm

    @rangerman-283: No, he sends it away to be done.

  • 287.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 17:20 pm

    @rangerman-278: actually flying back in the morning ranger..

  • 288.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 17:22 pm

    @stormersboy-277: :D

  • 289.PissAnt: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 17:29 pm

    What the **** is JC smoking?

    It is blindingly clear that NZ rugby players are just naturally superior athletes compared to South Africa’s soft *****.

  • 290.willievz: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 17:33 pm

    @corporal punishment-235: Who is Evans?

    The guy who could not kick a drop goal in 2007?

    BOOM yourself

  • 291.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 17:51 pm

    @gunther-279: Play nice Gunther. I’m a little eccentric at worst……

  • 292.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 17:52 pm

    Who’s Rettalik?

    Some new drug?

  • 293.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 18:04 pm

    @PissAnt-289: :) surprised you weren’t all over this one much earlier PA

  • 294.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 18:12 pm

    @Dawn-292: Chiefs lock Dawn..

    Brodie Retallick
    Date of birth (1991-05-31) 31 May 1991 (age 21)
    Place of birth New Zealand
    Height 2.04 m (6 ft 8 1?2 in)
    Weight 121 kg (19 st 1 lb)

    @willievz-290: hard to kick a drop goal when youre on the sidelines injured Willie..

  • 295.gonzo: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 18:16 pm

    This article makes sense right now but we just happen to be lucky right now. This is off the top of my head but in the last ~18 months, these guys have had fairly serious injuries. Probably there are others i don’t remember

    Faumuina, Woodcock (I think he was out quite a while)
    Boric, Williams
    Kaino, McCaw, Read
    Weepu, Carter, Cruden, C. Smith
    Kahui, Dagg, Mils

    The fact we only have a few of the above out now is just good luck. Same as the Reds/wallabies were damn lucky Cooper and Genia weren’t injured last year

  • 296.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 18:24 pm

    @rangerman-280: My wife does my hair.

    Waxing too.

    backcrackandsac.

    :D

  • 297.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 18:25 pm

    @PissAnt-289: I like the “edgier” pissant.

    Kind of like, Darth Vader meets Yoda.

  • 298.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 18:26 pm

    @gunther-279: Ask Grant about Icke.

    Loves the guy.

  • 299.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 18:26 pm

    And…..

  • 300.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    4 Oct 2012, 18:27 pm

    THIS IS SPARTA!!!!!! :D

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