Waratahs coach Darren Coleman says he is happy to “toe the party line” on resting Wallabies but warned the rules could come back to bite Super Rugby.
Coleman took a leaf out of the Brumbies’ book in taking an understrength side to Auckland at the weekend, resting Wallabies Michael Hooper, Lalakai Foketi and Mark Nawaqanitawase for a clash few expected the Waratahs to win.
Stephen Larkham did the same for the Brumbies’ round five trip to Christchurch to play the Crusaders, both coaches effectively throwing a game to have their Test stars available when it mattered.
The move has been questioned in some quarters, and Coleman agreed there was a risk that resting protocols could harm the competition.
“National interests are important, we want to do well at the World Cup, so we would always want to support our national team. That’s definitely the company line and one I’m happy to support, because everyone in our country is doing it. We’re not any more disadvantaged than anyone else,” he said after Saturday’s 55-21 loss at Eden Park.
“The integrity of the competition, you could argue it does compromise that a little bit. When the Brumbies came over a few weeks ago, for the Crusaders, they did the same thing. It’s not great for the competition but in a World Cup year you’ve got to suck it up I guess.”
Waratahs coach Darren Coleman.Credit: Getty
New Zealand’s resting policies are even more stringent and saw the Crusaders rest some of their top players against the Drua in Lautoka, a decision that led to the Fijian team’s historic win.
Under New Zealand Rugby rules, players may not play more than five matches in a row during the regular season and must leave the team environment to ensure they freshen up mentally as well as physically.
The main difference between Australian and New Zealand policies is that injury lay-offs cannot be counted as rest weeks in New Zealand.
Both organisations employ a degree of pragmatism around the rules, NZR allowing the Crusaders to select Scott Barrett for six games in a row because they were going to rest him in the seventh game and then go into a bye week.
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has been on the public record about his attitude towards the policy, which was developed by his predecessor Dave Rennie.
“I’ve asked each of the Super Rugby coaches to contact me directly if they have an issue and we’ll discuss it on an individual basis,” Jones said.
The Waratahs used Hooper against the Brumbies, in contravention of the five-game agreement, and will likely ask for another exemption in coming weeks, with Hooper and Jed Holloway both still expected to sit out one game.
Coleman reiterated his support for the resting policy on arrival back in Sydney on Sunday.
His side sank to 10th on the ladder after a 34-point rout at the hands of the Blues, but are staying stubbornly optimistic that a final-season tilt of four home games and away clashes against Queensland and the Crusaders will allow them to build some momentum and sneak into the play-offs.
“We’ve got six games to go and we’ve got to get winning,” he said. “Everyone wants Australian teams in the play-offs, so our focus is to get winning.”
The return of up to eight of the Waratahs’ top players will help that effort, with a home clash against the Highlanders looming this week.
Hooper, Foketi and Nawaqanitawase will be available, as will forwards Langi Gleeson, Dave Porecki and Hugh Sinclair.
The Highlanders will have a point to prove after losing to the Force on Saturday, a fact of which Coleman was aware.
“You’ve got to have all your ducks in a row to do well (against New Zealand teams),” he said. “You probably have to be at home and have your top team out and in form to give them a shot. But I’d like to think we’ll get some good momentum going into the play-offs.
“We’ve got the Highlanders at home, I’d like to think you’ll see much more competitive match, if not a win for us. I can’t speak for the other four teams but I definitely feel coming out against the Kiwi teams now, we’re much more physical. I felt last year against some of them we got overpowered significantly. [Hurricanes], Blues, Chiefs, in particular. Whereas now our team’s holding its own in the physical stakes.”
Watch all the action from the Super Rugby Pacific with every match streaming ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport.
