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Resting Test Players during the Super Rugby Season

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tigerland12

tigerland12

John Thornett (49)
Why would Link want to rest the Reds two most influential players? That's ridiculous, they are pushing to win the comp. The coaches couldn't care less about the Wallabies right now, their jobs are too get the results for their provinces, not to wrap half their teams in cotton wool.
 
Ali's Choice

Ali's Choice

Jimmy Flynn (14)
tigerland12 said:
Why would Link want to rest the Reds two most influential players? That's ridiculous, they are pushing to win the comp. The coaches couldn't care less about the Wallabies right now, their jobs are too get the results for their provinces, not to wrap half their teams in cotton wool.
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I'm not convinced that NZ or Australia's policy is better. In fact, we won't know until the season's end, when we see how the two nations perform during the S15, and most importantly during the RWC. Personally, I hated Henry's reconditioning program in 2007, when the twenty best All Blacks were forcibly rested for half the S14 season. Even had we won the RWC that year, I would still have disliked that policy because it alienated Super Rugby fans. Why should fans be expected to pay top dollar to watch teams missing their biggest stars? In fact, NZ S14 crowds declined markedly that season and they haven't ever recovered. I'll try and get some stats comparing Kiwi Super Rugby crowds pre2007 and from 2007 onwards.
 
J

JimboJoe1006

Chris McKivat (8)
tigerland12 said:
Why would Link want to rest the Reds two most influential players? That's ridiculous, they are pushing to win the comp. The coaches couldn't care less about the Wallabies right now, their jobs are too get the results for their provinces, not to wrap half their teams in cotton wool.
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To allow their second-choice players some experience and become decent backups. This concept applies to all teams, however I believe even more so to the Reds because the team is built around their two halves. Fortunately, for QLD and Australia, QC (Quade Cooper) and WG have remained fit over the season, however consider a scenario where both these players' bodies breakdown and they suffer significant injuries. The scenario is scary for all QLD fans, however the situation would be a little less so had Lucas/Prior and ... (who is Quade's replacement with Harris out?) had been given some time off the bench in games already won (Victoria x2, Cheetahs, Bulls and even the Blues).
 
waratahjesus

waratahjesus

Greg Davis (50)
TOCC said:
This whole resting of players is just rubbish, have a look at someone like Darren Lockyer, the guy plays up to 30 games a season(NRL State, Test)..

The Wallabies wont lose at the RWC because QC (Quade Cooper) and Genia are tired from a long season, If they will lose it will be because the Wallabies don't have the sufficient composure and experience. In my opinion, getting more game time is only going to help the Wallabies at the RWC.
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its a good point and quades composure will probably be the defining factor in australia losing but when a game is won and qld have been involved in a few of them this year that come under that category, why isnt genia having a rest?

the broncos rest darren during the origin series and put him on the bench often with 20 or 30 to go if they have the game sewn up.
 
Ali's Choice

Ali's Choice

Jimmy Flynn (14)
waratahjesus said:
its a good point and quades composure will probably be the defining factor in australia losing but when a game is won and qld have been involved in a few of them this year that come under that category, why isnt genia having a rest?

the broncos rest darren during the origin series and put him on the bench often with 20 or 30 to go if they have the game sewn up.
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Good point.

I'd also add that you can't compare the NRL and S15 because of the travel factor. How many times does Darren Lockeyer travel to South Africa and back or spend three weeks on the road touring? He certainly dosen't play games at altitude. And how many matches does Lockeyer play in NZ each year, or even Perth? The travel factor must surely contribute to the fatigue levels of S15 players over the course of the season.
 
Bruce Ross

Bruce Ross

Ken Catchpole (46)
My impression was that the Brumbies had already been resting most of their players most of the time. I certainly wonder whether their coaches are moonlighting at other jobs.
 
Sandpit Fan

Sandpit Fan

Nev Cottrell (35)
Bruce Ross said:
My impression was that the Brumbies had already been resting most of their players most of the time. I certainly wonder whether their coaches are moonlighting at other jobs.
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It seems from Tony Rea's comments that the players actually thought they were working extremely hard, working up a sweat and all..???
 
Scotty

Scotty

David Codey (61)
waratahjesus said:
its a good point and quades composure will probably be the defining factor in australia losing but when a game is won and qld have been involved in a few of them this year that come under that category, why isnt genia having a rest?

the broncos rest darren during the origin series and put him on the bench often with 20 or 30 to go if they have the game sewn up.
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He got a good 5 minutes rest on Friday. Must be fresh as a daisy now.
 
RugbyReg

RugbyReg

Rocky Elsom (76)
Staff member
Genia's one of those guys who are better off playing. He's sharper the more he plays. If he's legitimately injured, fine don't play him, but he gets more value out of playing than 'resting' for the sake of it.

Unlike the likes of TPN who's body seems to be falling apart on him, which is not surprising given what he puts it through.
 
BDA

BDA

Jim Lenehan (48)
not sure how much players need to be rested. As some others have already pointed out the super rugby season isn't particularly long and there are bye weeks. Most players will get plenty of time to rest at some point. I think only the more 'seasoned' players will need to rest, and the good thing for Deans is he really only has a handful of them. Sharpe will need rest at the end of th season, but given that the force wont make the finals, he'll get his time off. Robinson and Moore both had time off at the start of the season. And I cant see the tahs making it more than one week into the finals series.

Cooper and Genia are both young and they will get some time during the world cup to freshen up in the minnow match.

Finally, I'm not sure the ARU are being completely transparent about how they are handling certain talent. We have heard nothing lately about how elsom is going nor how serious palu's injury is. My guess would be that elsom could play tomorrow if there was a world cup. same with palu. The ARU would be liaising with the teams in relation to those injuries and they would be encouraging them to take no chances. I think Elsom and Palu are essentially being rested up.
 
Bullrush

Bullrush

Geoff Shaw (53)
It's a case by case basis I think.

Pat Lam talks about how he manages guys like Mealamu and Afoa who have hardly had any rest at all this season. I think Kev has started and played every game so far bar one where he came on as a sub.

Lam says it about how he manages the guys work-load during the week. Apparently Kevy and Afoa have only one hard training during the week and the Captains run and that's it. I s'pose Pat can feel pretty comfortable that there's not really a lot to be gained from smashing Kev a couple of times per week for him to go and get smashed again in the weekend.

I know Jerry Collins always said that he preferred to play...Genia is probably in the same boat. And I think it's important that the coaches hear and respond to individual preferences to a certain extent. I lot of the time, players know there own bodies and how they operate best.
 
Tangawizi

Tangawizi

Peter Fenwicke (45)
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