Leading All Blacks may be rested during next year's Super 15 in order to ensure that they will be fit for the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand later in the year. 

According to the Rugby Week website, All Blacks coach Graham Henry came under fire in 2007 for his reconditioning programme which saw the New Zealand's leading players pulled out of the Super 14 for half of the season. 

The Super 15 kicks off in 2011 with a much more demanding programme and Henry says that he plans to pull players in a similar fashion to what he did in 2007. 

Henry says that he will meet with New Zealand Super 15 coaches shortly to discuss the increased workload imposed on players by the expansion of Super Rugby from 14 to 15 teams in 2011.

He said top players would have to be carefully managed to ensure they avoid burnout in a lengthened season.

Henry's comments were echoed later Wednesday by Reds Super 15 coach Ewen McKenzie, who said he would combat the lengthened 2011 season by implementing a rotation policy which would extend to the Wallabies duo of Will Genia and Quade Cooper.

The length of the Super rugby season will increase from 16 to 21 weeks with the addition of a fifth Australian franchise and both Henry and McKenzie said the burden on players would grow with the additional matches.

"The main difference would be the load," McKenzie said. 

"It's just literally longer and we found when we went from Super 12 to Super 14 (in 2006) there was a big difference. It doesn't sound like much when you say it but the bodies have to get used to that."

"It means the rotation of players will be a bit more relevant." Henry said it was "ridiculous" to think any player could play in every week of the new tournament.

"I just think guys need to make sensible decisions so that people play at a high standard all the time and we will be discussing that with the Super 15 coaches in late September," he said.

Henry said each team would receive two byes in the season and spelling players for an additional two weeks to ensure they had four weeks off during the season was "a reasonably logical way of looking at it." 

The South African Rugby Players Association (SARPA, which represents the contracted rugby players in South Africa) announced jointly with the South African Rugby Union (SARU) a ground-breaking deal between the Springbok Players Trust and SARU on Tuesday, 31 August 2010. 

In terms of the abovementioned agreement, SARU will obtain the right to utilise the image rights of the Springbok players in a team context and in conjunction with the intellectual property of SARU for purposes of its commercial program.

The new arrangement – the first of its kind in rugby – ends months of negotiation and crucially clarifies commercial access by SARU and sponsors to the image rights of Springbok players.

“Initial discussions with SARU to adopt a new model for use of the image rights of the players in a team context were initiated by SARPA in 2007. Various commercial and practical sensitivities had to be overcome before the parties could enter into formal negotiations. Formal negotiations started during 2009 and have now been concluded” says Piet Heymans CEO of SARPA.

 “The players ceded their image rights to a Players’ Trust at the start of the 2009, removing them from their Springbok contracts,” explained Dr Jan Marais, chairman of the Executive Council of SARU. “We then entered into a long negotiation about what SARU would pay them for using their image rights in executing our sponsorship deals and I’m happy to say that we have now come to an amicable arrangement that will benefit both parties by allowing SARU to honour its commercial commitments and in rewarding the players for using their images in advertisements and for making personal appearances.”

“It was a robust and challenging negotiation process and the amount of commercial responsibility showed by the national players during this process should be recognised and applauded. The new agreement creates a sophisticated and elegant landscape to govern the use of these rights in future and it is aligned with best practices developed in other sporting codes nationally and internationally. The conclusion of the agreement underlines the commitment of both the national players and SARU to continuous develop and promote professional rugby in South Africa” says Eugene Henning, Executive Director of the commercial division of SARPA, who are managing agents of the Springbok Players’ Trust.

“In terms of the adopted model the national players formed a National Trust and granted the use of their image rights in a team context exclusively to such National Trust. The National Trust has now granted the right to utilise certain of the image rights that vests in the National Trust to SARU for a period of four years. The National Trust will receive market related remuneration from SARU for the grant of such rights where after such revenue will be distributed to the relevant players in their capacities as beneficiaries of the National Trust. This model will complement the commercial program of SARU but most importantly acknowledge the clear distinction between rugby playing services and general commercial services rendered by a player” Henning continued.

Dr Marais said: “We have agreed upon a certain amount per appearance by players. Sponsors pay for an association with the Springbok team but there are faces that go with the team and we are now able to ensure that we can give them those faces.”

The players’ trust will also be paid a lump sum for the use of their images in sponsorship activations. 

“This is a new departure and clarifies what was a complicated relationship based on assumption and expectation in the past,” said Andy Marinos, SARU manger of national teams.

“We’re now in the happy position that both the players and SARU know exactly where they stand and we can confidently deliver on the rights that have been granted to our commercial partners. The long-term expectation is that both the Union and players will benefit, as has been the case in cricket on which our model is based.”

“Another major positive from this is that definitive values and parameters are now formulated for the use of image rights of the players in a team context and that the players will be rewarded accordingly for their individual contributions in this regard” Henning concluded.

For more information contact Eugene Henning on 082 657 2908 or Piet Heymans on 082 563 3336.

The third annual RPA Academy Induction Day was held at Loughborough University and contained a series of interactive presentations providing first year Academy Players from all 12 Aviva Premiership Rugby clubs with essential information and advice designed to help them on the path to becoming model professionals on and off the pitch.

RPA Head Player Development Manager, Tim Nicholls said: "The aim of the Academy Induction Day is to educate and inform young players with regard to their future careers in professional rugby. It is designed to highlight both the opportunities and the risks associated with professional rugby, and the importance of developing themselves as rounded individuals in preparation for careers and life after they have finished playing.

"It is important for players entering the professional game to get expert advice that will signpost how they can be the best players on and off the field, and the Academy Induction Day is their essential starting point to becoming exemplary professional sportsmen."

The day was attended by over 60 Academy Players, who enjoyed presentations from sports, legal and health experts outlining the landscape of professional rugby and advising on playing insurance, player agents, drug awareness and anti-doping, social responsibility, and the range of health, welfare and education opportunities offered by the RPA's Player Development Programme.

The day was well supported by a number of high profile former professional players including Harry Ellis, Jim Evans, Leon Lloyd and Kevin Maggs, who shared their advice and experience of life as professional players with the Academy attendees.

Jim Evans, now the Assistant Academy Coach at Harlequins said: "I thought it was a brilliant day, really good for the guys, who have now got a much better understanding of how things work in professional sport.

"It was especially important to have staged the day at the start of the season, highlighting what it means to be a pro from the off. The boys were introduced to subjects such as dealing with agents or going on loan to another club that will begin to affect them from now, so it is important that they are informed from the start."

Evans retired through injury this year following a 10 year playing career at Harlequins, and also took part in a Q&A with some of the Academy attendees in his capacity as a former player.

He said: "I mainly talked about how important it is to do something outside of rugby. After being forced to retire I landed on my feet getting taken on to work with Quins Academy, as I'd put off preparing myself for what would happen after rugby. Not every player is going to be so lucky, so I think it was massively important to get that across."

The RPA Academy Induction Day was very well received by Academy players and Managers alike.

Howard Graham, Academy Coach at Harlequins said: "The day delivered some important messages for our new Academy Players and did that in a very good way, giving the players tips about how they can protect themselves against some of the pitfalls of being a professional player, and highlighting the need to look after their futures once their rugby careers are over.

"Allowing the boys to hear from external experts, such as media lawyers and former professional players who have been through the experience themselves had a strong impact, as it's good to hear advice from the horse's mouth."

Conor McGrath, Academy prop at Sale Sharks said: "It was all very useful. Professional rugby is a big organisation and the opportunity to learn more about it makes you feel safer going into it. At a day like this you'll learn stuff that is vital, without it you're going in ill-equipped."

Jonah Holmes, Academy scrum half at London Wasps said: "I wasn't expecting to find out as much as I did from the day. New academy players need to come to this, it's very useful and a very good use of the time."

Will Spencer, Academy lock at Bath Rugby said: "I was surprised about how in depth the day was. The whole day was good, and I have learnt so much from speaking to the former players like Harry Ellis. It's kick-started me into speaking to agents, sorting out my insurance and so on."

The guest presenters included Corin Palmer, Premiership Rugby Development & Academy Manager, Matt Himsworth, specialist lawyer in reputation management at media law firm, Schillings, Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Philip Hopley from LPP Consulting - the UK's leading team of individual and corporate mental health specialists, and Mark Haslam, criminal defence lawyer and partner at criminal law firm, BCL Burton Copland.

Matt Himsworth said: "Education and opportunities like the RPA Academy Induction Day are absolutely crucial for young players. We are living in a technological age, dealing with an increasingly invasive press and a burgeoning number of on-line publications and social networking opportunities. These young lads are starting with a clean sheet, but it's important for them to learn about the power and dangers of the technology that is available to them and how it can affect their careers."

For more information about the RPA Player Development Programme please contact Tim Nicholls, RPA Head Player Development Manager on 0208 831 7930 or email tnicholls@theRPA.co.uk

Peter de Villiers wants to give Springbok supporters value for their money and that is why he won’t rest any of his heavyweights for Saturday’s Tri-Nations Test against the Wallabies.

“I had to weigh up what people want and what they pay for,” said the Springbok coach.

“These are their heroes and they deserve to see them. The important issue is how the players are managed during the week so that they can play for 60 minutes or make an impact.

“It’s not just about picking a team because I also have to consider the role-players. I consider the supporters important role-players.”

With the Bok coach unlikely to rest overplayed senior players this week unless injury strikes, there is a good chance that flank Juan Smith will captain the Springboks on their end-of-season tour.

Smith can then take over the captaincy from John Smit. The hooker is likely to be rested alongside other senior players such as Bryan Habana, Victor Matfield and Schalk Burger with a view to having them fresh at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

Smith missed a number of games in this year’s Super 14 and Tri-Nations due to personal reasons and that will make it possible for him to be picked as captain should the Bok coach decide to rest players.

The Cheetahs skipper also did not play during the away leg of the Tri-Nations and looks hungry for rugby – compared to Smit, who has played too much rugby according to his coach.

No final decision has been taken regarding the matter as Smith is a key player in the Springbok team with a view to 2011 and De Villiers indicated earlier that the tour to Europe would be a dress rehearsal for the World Cup.

However, the vast amount of rugby played may convince De Villiers to rest the senior players and entrust Smith with the captaincy duty.

Meanwhile, De Villiers said he was delighted with the impact of his substitutes bench against the Wallabies at Loftus Versfeld. He did not want to single out hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle for the huge impact he made.

NEWS24

Winger Drew Mitchell and hooker Stephen Moore will make their 50^th Test appearances after being named today in the Qantas Wallabies side for Saturday’s Mandela Plate Test against South Africa at Bloemfontein.

The players will become the 33^rd and 34^th Australians to appear in 50 Test matches after both were included in the starting XV, with Moore being promoted into this week’s run on side after he featured at Pretoria as a blood bin replacement.

The pair, who both began their Test careers in 2005, will be looking to celebrate the milestone by sharing in Australia’s first win at altitude for 47 years, as the Qantas Wallabies and Springboks shape up for the Mandela Plate decider.

Australia won the opening Test of the series 30-13 in Brisbane, but were defeated 31-44 in their second Bundaberg Red Tri Nations Series meeting last weekend at Loftus Versfeld.

A win in the third contest will regain for Australia the Mandela Plate, which was last won two years ago, while also securing second position in this year’s Tri Nations with a match against New Zealand still to be played.

The Qantas Wallabies starting line-up features three alterations from that which began last Saturday’s Test, with hookers Moore and Saia Fainga’a swapping roles, while Mark Chisholm replaces Dean Mumm in the second row, and Ben McCalman starts in place of Richard Brown at the back of the scrum.

Chisholm will feature in this year’s Tri Nations tournament for the first time, after playing the most recent of his 51 Tests against Ireland in Brisbane at the end of June.

McCalman gains his maiden Test start after coming from the bench in each of the two earlier Tests against South Africa.

The 22-year-old utility forward, who only debuted in Super Rugby at the start of this year, will play in his favourite position at No. 8 after having replaced Brown for the final 23 minutes of last weekend’s game.

Both Brown and Mumm could yet participate in Saturday’s proceedings after being named among the run on substitutes.

Chisholm will pack down alongside Nathan Sharpe, with the experienced second rower declared fit after he left the field before the final whistle in Pretoria due to an ankle sprain.

Sharpe will on Saturday night [Sunday morning, AEST] become Australia’s fifth most capped player in his own right as he represents the Qantas Wallabies for an 87^th time, surpassing the 86 caps gathered by both John Eales and Joe Roff.

After this weekend, just George Gregan (139), George Smith (110), Stephen Larkham (102) and David Campese (101) will have worn the Qantas Wallabies jersey on more occasions than has Sharpe.

Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans expects the personnel changes to inject enthusiasm into the side after last weekend’s potentially deflating reverse.

“All three of the players coming into the pack will offer us energy,” Deans says.

“It’s obviously a big night for Stephen, as well as for Drew, but Mark and Ben also have big opportunities ahead of them.”

Between them, Moore and Chisholm add 100 caps of experience to the pack, which offers the forward unit additional stability.

“Both Stephen and Mark have experience playing in games where the circumstances were not too dis-similar to what we will encounter on Saturday night. They know what to expect and – perhaps even more importantly – know what is required in order to be successful,” Deans says.

McCalman features in only his third Test, but provides a level of abrasiveness Deans believes will be critical.

“Ben did a great job coming off the bench for us last weekend and we are expecting more of the same, this time from the start. Not only does he bring physicality, he also offers us an additional lineout option due to his extensive background playing as a six or in the second row.”

While the raising of individual appearance milestones rarely provides a team focus, Deans says this weekend’s achievements by Moore and Mitchell should bring the best out of both.

“There have been 846 Wallabies but they are only the 33^rd and 34^th to play 50 Tests. That in itself tells you the significance of this occasion for those blokes.”

Mitchell took his maiden Test bow against the same opponent as he will play his 50^th Test, scoring a try after coming off the bench during Australia’s 30-12 win in Sydney.

Forty nine Tests on, the speedy 26-year-old now has 23 tries to his name, which ranks him 11^th on Australia’s Test try-scoring chart.

Moore had played his first Test earlier that same international season, also featuring from the bench during the win over Samoa in Sydney.

Current Qantas Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom debuted alongside Moore in that match, and made his 50^th Test appearance in this season’s Test opener against Fiji at Canberra.

In attaining his 50^th Test cap on the weekend, the 27-year-old Moore will become the fourth Australia hooker to reach the milestone, following on from Jeremy Paul (72), Phil Kearns (67) and Michael Foley (50).

The Qantas Wallabies team to play South Africa in the Bundaberg Red Tri Nations Series and Mandela Plate Test at Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein on Saturday 4 September at 5pm (1am, Sun 5 September, AEST) is:

15. Kurtley Beale                     (NSW Waratahs)          

14. James O’Connor               (Western Force)

13. Adam Ashley-Cooper        (Brumbies)

12. Matt Giteau                       (Brumbies)

11. Drew Mitchell                    (NSW Waratahs)

10. Quade Cooper                  (Queensland Reds)

9. Will Genia                            (Queensland Reds)

8. Ben McCalman                   (Western Force)

7. David Pocock                      (Western Force)

6. Rocky Elsom                       (Brumbies, captain)

5. Nathan Sharpe                    (Western Force)

4. Mark Chisholm                    (Brumbies)

3. Salesi Ma’afu                      (Brumbies)

2. Stephen Moore                   (Brumbies)

1. Benn Robinson                   (NSW Waratahs)

Run on reserves:

16. Saia Fainga’a                    (Queensland Reds)

17. James Slipper                   (Queensland Reds)

18. Dean Mumm                     (NSW Waratahs)

19. Richard Brown                  (Western Force)

20. Luke Burgess                    (NSW Waratahs)

21. Berrick Barnes                  (NSW Waratahs)

22. Anthony Fainga’a              (Queensland Reds)

Australia v South Africa @ in South Africa – Historical Notes

• This will be the 74th meeting between Australia and South Africa at all venues. Australia has won 28 and South Africa 44, while one match has been drawn.


• Just eight of Australia’s previous wins have been attained on South African soil, with the Springboks taking the other 30 matches that have been played.


• Australia has won just twice previously at high veldt venues – 15-4 in 1933 at Bloemfontein and 11-9 in 1963 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. The Wallabies have been beaten on their two most recent visits to Bloemfontein, including their first ever Tri Nations match in the Republic in 1996, which was lost 19-25.


• Australia’s 11-point win over South Africa at Bloemfontein in 1933 is one of just three defeats suffered by the Springboks from 16 Tests played in the Free State capital.


• Vodacom Park is home to the Free State Cheetahs in the domestic South African Currie Cup competition. It is also the home of the Cheetahs in Super Rugby.


• The ground witnessed a then record score during the 1995 Rugby World Cup when New Zealand beat Japan 145-17, with flyhalf Simon Culhane scoring 45 points while winger Marc Ellis totalled six tries. Both still stand as tournament records for one match.


• A year later, Bloemfontein hosted Australia’s maiden match on South African soil in the newly inaugurated Tri Nations tournament featuring Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. This year’s Test will be the Qantas Wallabies’ first visit to Vodacom Park since that match 14 years ago.


• The ground was a host venue for six matches during the 2010 FIFA Football World Cup held in South Africa.


• South Africa hasn’t lost a Test match at Vodacom Park since 2000 when it was edged out 27-22 by England.


• Australia’s most recent win on South African soil was a 27-15 win at Durban in 2008 which secured the Mandela Plate. That success was the first achieved by the Wallabies in the Republic for eight years.


• Prior to South Africa’s readmission to international sport in 1992, Australia had won just seven of the 31 matches played.


• The scoreboard stands at 21 wins to Australia and 20 to South Africa, with one drawn, for the period since then.

Matt McILraith

Qantas Wallabies Media Manager

Australian Rugby Union

Ph: (+61) 424 062 003

Issued by as SARU on behalf of the ARU

South Africa were criticised earlier this year for struggling at the breakdowns after enjoying success in the Super 14.

However, in last Saturday’s 44-31 win over Australia in Pretoria very little was seen of Wallaby openside flank David Pocock.

The All Blacks and Wallabies dominated the Boks on the ground during their away games and questions were raised as to why they could not adapt to the new interpretation of the breakdown laws at international level.

Pocock and All Black flank Richie McCaw turned over possession like the Boks did when they had Heinrich Brüssow available.

Brüssow is currently unavailable due to a knee injury.

Many people believed then that the Boks would not be able to compete on the ground again without Brüssow.

A fit Brüssow certainly belongs in the Bok camp, but it looks as if the Boks’ opponents are not as dominant at the breakdowns as they were.

One can only wonder if the return of flank Juan Smith for the home Tests has something to do with that.

Smith is playing very well again and the established combination with No 8 Pierre Spies and flank Schalk Burger may just be enough to unnerve opponents.

Even so, De Villiers believes his team is now better equipped to unnerve opponents on the ground.

“I think we struggled to adapt overseas at the start of the Tri-Nations and with the way in which the breakdowns were refereed. It was completely different to the way it was officiated in the Super 14 and we took a while to adapt,” he said.

“Things are better now that we have adapted.”

While the Boks did well in the lineouts in Pretoria, lock Victor Matfield believes the breakdowns are the area in which they have improved the most.

He believes it had a big impact on the Boks’ first Tri-Nations victory of 2010 at Loftus Versfeld. 

“The lineouts were much better in Pretoria, but I was particularly impressed by how well we did at the breakdowns,” said the Springbok lock.

Matfield believes the improvement is down to a team effort and hard work.

NEWS24

New Zealand on Wednesday included uncapped flyhalf Colin Slade as cover for Dan Carter in a 26-man squad named to face Australia in Sydney next week.

Victory will give the All Blacks a clean sweep in the Tri-Nations tournament.

Slade was the sole change to coach Graham Henry's all-conquering squad, which has won all five of its Tri-Nations Tests this year and already claimed the southern hemisphere title.

The 22-year-old is likely start on the bench against the Wallabies in Sydney on September 11, with Aaron Cruden promoted from the reserves to take over the playmaker role from Carter, who is recovering from ankle surgery.

Henry said Cruden would definitely be starting against Australia but Slade's domestic form for Canterbury had earned him a place in the squad.

"Colin Slade I thought was probably the best player on the field against Auckland on Saturday, and he's been playing very well," he told reporters.

Slade said winning a cap off the bench for the All Blacks would fulfil a childhood dream.

"Every boy growing up wants to play for the All Blacks and I was no different," he told national news agency NZPA.

"Watching the teams on TV as a wee fella in the mid-90s, they were playing really well and I decided that's where I wanted to be."

Henry revealed he had not said he had not decided whether Cruden, still relatively inexperienced at Test level, would assume the goalkicking duties normally handled by superboot Carter.

"We could play [scrumhalf] Piri Weepu and he could kick at goal. He's a class goalkicker," the coach said.

"Aaron [Cruden] has improved his goalkicking, which we saw in the weekend for Manawatu, and Israel Dagg can kick goals as well... we haven't discussed it yet."

New Zealand:

Forwards: John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Tom Donnelly, Corey Flynn, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (captain), Keven Mealamu, Kieran Read, Brad Thorn, Victor Vito, Samuel Whitelock, Tony Woodcock.

Backs: Jimmy Cowan, Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Mils Muliaina, Ma'a Nonu, Rene Ranger, Josevata Rokocoko, Colin Slade, Conrad Smith, Benson Stanley, Piri Weepu.

Date: Saturday, September 11
Venue: ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 20.00 (10.00 GMT)
Referee: Mark Lawrence (SA)
Assistant referees: Jonathan Kaplan (SA), Christie du Preez (SA)

AFP

Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has named his team to play the Wallabies in their Tri-Nations clash in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

Kick-off is at 17:00.

The starting XV shows one change from the side that beat the Wallabies 44-31 in Pretoria last weekend.

Danie Rossouw starts in place of Flip van der Merwe who drops to the bench. 

Butch James has been ruled out with a shoulder injury. His place on the bench has been taken by Gio Aplon.

Teams:

South Africa:

15 Frans Steyn, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (capt), 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp

Reserves: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Ryan Kankowski, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Juan de Jongh, Gio Aplon 

Australia:

TBA

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England) 
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Simon McDowell (Ireland) 
Television match official: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)