Super Rugby stars fume at resting regime
AUSTRALIA'S top rugby stars are likely to oppose directives from the ARU to rest during the Super Rugby season.
Player workload management has become the biggest issue in the game following the release of next year's schedule, which will see an unprecedented season packed with Super Rugby and international matches from February to December.
It has created an uncomfortable scenario in which the ARU is likely to request key players be rested from Super Rugby games while the franchises are dealing with a cutting of their squad numbers.
The ARU certainly doesn't want its headline players resting from too many Wallabies games because they are its primary money-spinner and it is desperate to overturn this year's $16 million deficit.
Injured Wallaby and Waratahs forwards Benn Robinson and Wycliff Palu told The Daily Telegraph they are not keen to sit out Super games.
"As a player, whether you're starting or coming off the bench, you always want to be playing the whole time," Robinson said.
"I definitely won't be putting up my hand saying 'I don't want to be playing this game' or hold myself back from whatever is in front of me.
"It's a tough call. You love playing for the Waratahs, and you're a part of a squad. You don't want to let them down.
"If you're seen as a senior player, and you're not playing a game that might be a bit quieter for the Waratahs, for me it's not a good look."Asked if he would resist an edict to miss Super games, Palu said: "I would. I want to play games. I want to be playing as much as possible.
"You talk to anyone, it's not so much playing games, because everyone loves that. It's the training load. We manage it pretty well at the Waratahs."
Something has to give, however. If a top Wallaby was to play every Super game including finals, and every Test through to the end-of-season European tour, he would rack up 34 games. But the players' enterprise agreement stipulates they can only play a maximum of 30.
ARU boss John O'Neill said the franchises would have to play ball.
"Co-operation needed between the Super Rugby franchises and coaching staff, medical staff, strength and conditioning with their Wallaby counterparts is going to be critical," O'Neill said. "It's common sense. Avoid brinkmanship, avoid one-upmanship, player welfare and longevity is front of mind."
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said: "There will be a lot of dialogue and interaction between all parties because we are all in this together and the players are the key resource."
Franchise coaches will be fearful that resting their key players, even in "easier" games, could backfire and ruin their season.
Robinson said the ARU should not develop blanket policies. "They've got to break it down and look at players individually, not just a blanket over front-rowers in general and say they need to have a break," he said.
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