Over-cooked All Blacks are given a break
10 April 2012
New Zealand will rest at least four key players for Saturday's Tri-Nations Test against South Africa in Wellington, even though it could anger their fans.
Lock Brad Thorn, prop Owen Franks, flanker Kieran Read and hooker Keven Mealamu have been released from the squad to recuperate from tiring Super 15 campaigns.
The move, six weeks before the World Cup, repeats the policy when many players were rested in the runup to the tournament in 2007, when the under-prepared All Blacks crashed out in the quarter-finals.
Assistant coach Wayne Smith said: "We're sticking to the plans that we've got. Every player is on an individual plan and some are champing at the bit to get out there while some are a wee bit over-cooked."
