Rest and rotations for All Blacks haven’t prevented injuries, suggesting that it might be safer not to play them at all. Several All Blacks have suffered injuries during the Super Rugby Pacific season, including Hurricanes halfback Cam Roigard and teammate Asafo Aumua, as well as Rieko Ioane, Scott Barrett, Damian McKenzie, and Samipeni Finau.
Ethan Blackadder was sidelined for the Crusaders due to a thigh strain sustained during training. Despite efforts such as sabbaticals and load management to preserve players, injuries persist, raising questions about the efficacy of limiting playing time.
New Zealand Rugby faces challenges, with disagreements between provincial unions and NZR, and the disappearance of television programs like Grassroots Rugby and Mainfreight Rugby. Amidst this backdrop, there’s a call for ensuring All Blacks’ presence in Super Rugby Pacific and maximizing playing time to maintain the competitiveness of the league.
Critics argue against the rationale for rest and rotation policies, emphasizing the need for elite players to play consistently. Comparisons with the NRL highlight the perceived overprotection of All Blacks.
The argument against extended breaks and rotation suggests that there are enough breaks in the season to avoid prescribing rest, and some rotation is natural in rugby. The lack of public input into player management despite financial investment in the sport is highlighted.
The article questions whether All Blacks should exclusively focus on international rugby, foregoing provincial and franchise competitions.
A proposed solution involves All Blacks playing in New Zealand year-round without sabbaticals or restricted minutes. The article concludes that attempting to prevent injuries through individualized management doesn’t guarantee success, suggesting a binary choice between playing and not playing.
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