New Zealand Rugby Season Must Adjust to Difficult Times

So far, the New Zealand teams have only three wins in 10 games, while the flagship Australian and South African teams look potent.

Naturally, it is too early in the season to make any doomsday auguries for the five kiwi teams, four of whom were considered to be potential title threats, or for New Zealand rugby.

Horrible injuries and player absenteeism have hurt the New Zealand teams throughout the early part of the season, and as the year progresses, the issue of player welfare will need to be addressed by the NZRU.

Amongst all of the sudden excitement of the Super 14 and the continuing Northern Hemisphere rugby season (highlighted by the Six Nations), a significant item of New Zealand rugby news has gone largely unnoticed: The 2009 draw for the Air New Zealand Cup was announced.

Most notably, the split-pool system that was met with mixed opinion last year has been shelved. This year’s hybrid will use a genuine round robin competition.

The New Zealand Rugby Union wants to keep the competition at 14 teams after some teams' financial uncertainty last season. This will require roughly four months of rugby action, with the tournament slated to run from July to November.

After crowd numbers and general interest decreased last year, this year's domestic competition will be closely monitored. Plus, considering the global financial crisis, the New Zealand teams must work to maintain their attendance and revenue.

This uncertainty leads to one question: Who will be playing in the Air New Zealand Cup?

Take 30 All Blacks out of the equation, give or take another few players from injury; and will the provinces, in desperate need of gate revenue, suffer more in 2009? 

Will a Wellington, Auckland, or Canterbury team without their superstar players attract as many fans?

Surely, this is the key question for this season.

From a national team perspective, I believe the reintroduction of the rotation system will need to occur. Graham Henry had an almost exclusive test match 15 last year, unlike earlier years in his reign. 

A rotation would give players greater rest and recuperation. This would also funnel growth at the top level with up and coming players, something that has been stymied by a player exodus in 2007 and a lack of rotation in 2008.

There is only one way to truly tackle this, which would satisfy both Graham Henry, the players, the NZRU, and the general public.

A specific squad could be used for the home and Tri Nations campaign. This squad would be picked using a Super 14 form, and it would be reliant on the national incumbents (providing they are not drastically out of form).

Then, with the exception of key players or those who are unhindered by any injury or fatigue, the Test squad would be disbanded at the conclusion of the Tri Nations (mid-September). 

After the Tri Nations, those six or so key players would be rested until the end-of-year tour.  This would give them about a two-month break.

However, the rest of these players would then filter back into the Air New Zealand Cup, ensuring that the domestic competition has marquee players back.

The end-of-year test squad would then consist of the form performers of the Air New Zealand cup, minus the returning Tri Nations All Blacks, and the rested six Test players from the mid-year tour.  This would ensure that when the final of the Domestic Championship is played on Nov. 7 that all unselected mid-year All Blacks would have at least two months of rest.

This would ensure a two to three month offseason for top-level players.  This would mean continued development in the traditional playing base strength of New Zealand rugby.  It would ensure top level rugby names are playing in the domestic competition.  It would ensure healthy competition for places in the squad as seen in 2005-2006.

And it would, with one planned move, ensure that New Zealand rugby can remain on the summit in 2009.