Balancing act for Mauger
Aaron Mauger is fast running out of time to wrap his All Blacks in cotton wool and give them their two weeks off.
A deal between New Zealand Rugby and the five Kiwi Super Rugby franchises means the Highlanders head coach must do so before the three-test series against France in June.
After tonight’s derby against the Blues at Eden Park, the Dunedin-based franchise has six weeks to spell its their representatives, minus loose forward Liam Squire who has already missed four games with a broken thumb.
However, given Mauger has ruled out sitting his guns against the Bulls and Sharks in South Africa, and you wouldn’t imagine he will spell them for the June 1 derby against the Hurricanes in Dunedin, the window is small.
Circle the home game against the Lions on May 12, and the road games against the Waratahs (May 19) and Reds (May 26).
Squire, Ben Smith, Aaron Smith, Waisake Naholo, Luke Whitelock, Liam Coltman and Dillon Hunt attended the All Blacks training camp in Christchurch on Monday. None outside of Squire have had a break.
‘‘All those guys are performing well and they’ve got lots of energy,’’ Mauger said. ‘‘We just don’t feel like they need that rest just yet. But there will be a time over the next seven-week block where those guys who are going to be in that All Blacks squad in June are going to need some time out.
‘‘Through a season, often those decisions are made for you around injuries or guys needing a rest. But at this stage, we’re pretty fresh and we feel like we’re in a pretty good space.’’
Mauger admitted the early byes (round three and round eight) had made it difficult to justify resting his All Blacks. Plus four of their first five games were crunch New Zealand derbies.
‘‘It’s something we’re going to have to play by ear in the next seven weeks . . . it won’t be in the next couple of weeks because we’re obviously on tour,’’ he said.
‘‘I’m sure that’s going to stretch us during that period, and our energy is going to be critical. Sometimes having your best players on the park isn’t always the best thing if they are tired.’’
But before all that, and before Mauger names his 27-strong squad to leave for South Africa tomorrow, he has a rematch of his side’s season opening 41-34 win against the Blues to worry about.
The Highlanders are hot favourites with the bookies to heap more misery on the injurydepleted Blues, who are entrenched at the bottom of the New Zealand conference with two wins and five defeats.
With 18 players unavailable, including Sonny Bill Williams, Jerome Kaino, captain Augustine Pulu, Melani Nanai and George Moala, they’ve been forced to name a team barely recognisable from the one which showed promise but lost in Dunedin in February.
‘‘There’s been a lot of talk about injuries and their form, but you underestimate the Blues at your peril,’’ Mauger said. ‘‘There’s a lot of guys who can hurt you, especially if you give them too much time and space.’’
Mauger raised a few eyebrows on Wednesday, when he named his side with star halfback Aaron Smith on the bench, a decision he put down to the fact his All Blacks had limited time with the squad this week due to Monday’s training camp, and Kayne Hammington’s impressive form off the bench in recent weeks.