Auckland coach angry over All Black rest
Auckland coach Mark Anscombe is angry over New Zealand All Black coach, Graham Henry’s decision to sit out nine players until after the club finishes their end of year tour of the Northern Hemisphere.
Anscombe is concerned with flanker Jerome Kaino, who has been scheduled to refrain from ITM Cup competition for five weeks, until the All Blacks start their tour.
Henry has made the decision to sit several All Black stars for the entire five weeks, while he is allowing 17 others to participate, but only in limited starts. Henry is attempting to keep his players healthy not only for their upcoming tour, but also for the
Rugby World Cup, which is to be held in New Zealand in 2011.
However, resting Kaino does not do a lot for Anscombe, whose Auckland side is challenging Canterbury for the top spot in the ITM Cup standings.
Anscombe elaborated on his frustrations, saying: “He’s (Kaino) contracted to us and the players collective says a two week stand-down. So we understand and support that, but after that the question’s got to be asked – why does it have to be longer? He didn’t
play the last test, he came off the bench and made a great cameo but it was a couple of weeks before that before he had (played).”
With the ITM Cup moving into the second half of its schedule, the return of some All Black players, while others continue to sit out, could prove to be a major disadvantage.
Anscombe believes that Kaino’s form will only be improved by his participation in club rugby, stating: “Jerome, when you look at him over the years, when does he play his best rugby? When he’s consistently playing.”
The Auckland coach is set to meet with Henry in the hopes that he will be able to sway the New Zealand skipper into clearing Kaino for part of the five-week break.
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