1
A bit of perspective, James Lentjes the Highlanders openside flanker played in the Super 15 final, had one week off and ripped straight back into Dunedin club rugby. The Highlanders forward pack on the Wed before flying out to Wellington on the Thursday for the Super 15 final all went out pig hunting running up and down hill's chasing pigs through the bush.
Jamie Joseph had no problem with this because that's what they had been doing all season.
The medical staff here monitor player fatigue overload bullshit with GPS crap, graphs and whatever else is new on the market and look for ways to keep players off the field rather than do their job they were employed to do and get them back out on the track ASAP.
I would never accuse any of the players of not trying their absolute best come match day but they haven't been given the correct preparation in my opinion anyway.
If anyone has had the opportunity to sit down and have a beer with any of these guy's you would know that they are all genuine good solid buggers and empty the tank every time they play but they simply don't get the game time under their belt to close matches out and in the NRC this has been glaringly obvious.
Old saying that has stood the test of time 'When the body goes the mind goes with it' hence the taking of easy options and penalties and yellow cards that go with the territory of not being match fit.
Hitting shields and running laps along with whatever the latest aerobic thing is will only get you so far.
You will find that there is a gradual mindset set change happening back to a bit of old school in the professional set up's in NZ anyway.