The bulk of the All Blacks squad have been made available to play in the NPC over the coming weeks, before New Zealand’s end of year tour to Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and Ireland.
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Unlike the South African Rugby Union, who have placed a blanket ban on their contracted Springboks playing domestic rugby, the New Zealand Rugby Union have released 17 of the All Blacks that featured in their 15th consecutive win in Sydney at the weekend.
Although there will be a staggered return to NPC action, the Kiwi approach is far more sensible than the blanket ban imposed on the Boks – following the selfish behaviour of certain South African provinces.
The All Blacks returned to New Zealand on Sunday, following their 23–22 victory over Australia in the final match of an unbeaten Tri-Nations run, with players spending the next few weeks at home before the 30–strong All Blacks squad for the end of year tour is announced on Sunday October 17.
The All Blacks will play Tests on consecutive weekends against Australia (Saturday, October 30), England (Saturday, November 6), Scotland (Saturday, November 13), Ireland (Saturday, November 20) and Wales (Saturday, November 27).
Seventeen players from the All Blacks squad will be available to play in the NPC, if required by their provincial coaches, at various stages over the next few rounds.
That includes rookie Colin Slade, who made his debut off the bench at the weekend.
All Black captain Richie McCaw – along with Jerome Kaino, Kieran Read, Piri Weepu, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Corey Jane and Mils Muliaina – will not feature in any NPC games before the year-end tour squad is named.
All Black coach Graham Henry said many of the players, especially those in the All Blacks starting XV, have had a big year with Super 14 rugby and the Test season, while others haven’t played as much rugby.
“We are taking a sensible approach in managing their workload as we prepare for the end of year tour as well as the new Super Rugby [Super 15] competition in 2011,” Henry said.
The upcoming NPC rounds and matches (with players available for selection if required in brackets) are as follows:
Week 8:
Waikato (Liam Messam) v Southland, Hamilton, Thursday, September 16.
Manawatu v Auckland (Benson Stanley), Palmerston North, Friday, September 17.
Taranaki v Canterbury (Colin Slade), New Plymouth, Saturday, September 18.
Tasman v North Harbour (Anthony Boric), Nelson, Saturday, September 18.
Otago v Northland (Rene Ranger), Dunedin, Sunday, September 19.
Week 9:
Southland v Auckland (John Afoa, Benson Stanley), Invercargill, Thursday, September 23.
Canterbury (Corey Flynn, Colin Slade) v Wellington, Christchurch, Saturday, September 25.
Waikato (Liam Messam) v Tasman, Hamilton, Saturday, September 25.
North Harbour (Anthony Boric) v Manawatu, North Shore City, Sunday, September 26.
Counties Manukau v Northland (Rene Ranger), Pukekohe, Sunday, September 26.
Week 10:
Auckland (John Afoa, Benson Stanley) v Hawke’s Bay, Auckland, Friday, October 1.
Northland (Rene Ranger) v Waikato (Liam Messam), Whangarei, Saturday, October 2.
Otago v Canterbury (Corey Flynn, Colin Slade), Dunedin, Saturday, October 2.
Manawatu (Aaron Cruden) v Tasman, Palmerston North, Sunday, October 3.
Counties Manukau v North Harbour (Anthony Boric), Pukekohe, Sunday, October 3.
Week 11:
Hawke’s Bay (Israel Dagg) v Northland (Rene Ranger), Napier, Thursday, October 7.
Waikato (Liam Messam) v Otago, Hamilton, Friday, October 8.
Taranaki v Manawatu (Aaron Cruden), New Plymouth, Saturday, October 9.
Counties Manukau v Auckland (John Afoa, Joe Rokocoko, Benson Stanley), Pukekohe, Saturday, October 9.
Southland v Canterbury (Corey Flynn, Colin Slade), Invercargill, Saturday, October 9.
North Harbour (Anthony Boric) v Wellington (Victor Vito), North Shore City, Sunday, October 10.
Week 12:
Manawatu (Aaron Cruden) v Waikato (Liam Messam), Palmerston North, Thursday, October 14.
Tasman (Ben Franks) v Northland (Rene Ranger), Nelson, Friday, October 15.
Bay of Plenty v Southland (Jimmy Cowan), Mt Maunganui, Saturday, October 16.
Canterbury (Corey Flynn, Owen Franks, Colin Slade, Brad Thorn) v Counties Manukau, Christchurch, Saturday, October 16.
Wellington (Victor Vito) v Taranaki, Wellington, Saturday, October 16.
Auckland (John Afoa, Keven Mealamu, Joe Rokocoko, Benson Stanley) v Otago (Tom Donnelly), Auckland, Sunday, October 17.
Hawke’s Bay (Israel Dagg) v North Harbour (Anthony Boric, Tony Woodcock), Napier, Sunday, October 17.
Well out top Boks should have been rested not doing the conditioning programme just yet. Should have taken 2 weeks or so off for total rest, then do the conditioning programme. Rather the conditioning programme now than playing I suppose, but should have rested first.
Some Boks should be playing though. The ones that have been off the whole season and only just came back to CC. Should have been left to play in the CC. They NEED MORE game time not less.
Puma wrote:
Meant – our
I suppose touring countries like Hong Kong is one way of ramping up the “unbeaten” count 🙂
@ bos_otter:
You mean as opposed to playing Italy ? 😉
@ Rugby_Princess: yea 🙂
@ Rugby_Princess: how many games are they playing in Hong Dong? I heard those guys love their rugby..
@ bos_otter:
ABs play Wobblies in HKG – once – on their way to Europe for their EOYT. SH nations have to do something to top up their coffers else they will lose all their players to NH purses.
ABs also looked at the practicalities of playing Ireland in New York as part of their efforts to helping broaden the appeal of Rugby in the US – that would be really cool I reckon 😀
And yes, HKGers love their rugby. You forgetting it was a british colony for 100+ years – HKG is the home of the successful Seven a Side Tournament !
@ bos_otter:
Or losing to a Club Side … 😉
Rugby_Princess wrote:
That’s a good idea, I agree. Rugby’s not big there yet, but I guess if it catch on, we might see some real competion from them.
Eeemmmm…what country haven’t been a Brittish colony? 🙂
Have to admit…I can’t remember ever watching those HK guys play.
@ bos_otter:
NZRU have an agreement with USRU to help promote the game in the US. They do coaching clinics etc around the US. I think an AB v Oirish game in the heart of NYC with that ex-Irish population would be way cool – I would go 😀
@ bos_otter: ramping up the unbeaten count?…bwahaa lets see, it started on the EOYT last year, against France and 3 of the NH sides… then Ireland and 2 x Wales in the June window, then 6 wins in the 3Ns..
so really, only one game would have been against “lesser” opposition… that being Italy… the rest are all 1st Tier rugby playing nations, which IMHO makes the 15 on the trot even more impressive…
@ nga puhi:
I am not sure whether shooting for the moon is a good or a bad thing … Probably need the “big hitters” in HKG & London but after that I reckon they should be moved the bench & let the babies have a go. After all, based in the Chicken-Egg scenario, they are only going to improve if they get game time 😀
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