No cotton wool for Wallabies stars
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has ruled out resting star players for the World Cup during next year's Super rugby tournament.
Instead Deans says the players must manage their own bodies through the extended 21-week, 15-team competition.
"Ultimately it is about the players," Deans said.
"They have enough background to understand best practice.
"We are not here to intervene but obviously if there was clearly a case of neglect, we would probably have something to say about it."
Tension will be high in 2011 as a bigger group of players, with the addition of fifth side the Melbourne Rebels, vie for a place in the World Cup squad.
The temptation could be there to play through injury to boost the chances of a call-up.
"Players sometimes believe they have that incentive but what they need to understand is ultimately it is a lose-lose, both parties," Deans said.
"That's where the management is critical. You look at Willy (Genia, who was carrying a rib injury and remained on the bench against Italy). He would have loved to have played but it wasn't in his best interests."
"It's all about best practice. People know when it's evident. Short cuts don't cut it in terms of going the distance, neither as individuals nor teams."
Player workloads will continue to be monitored at their franchises using GPS equipment, Deans said.
As the Wallabies' spring tour draws to a close, planning for an assault on the Webb Ellis Cup will be ramped up.
If the final make-up of the squad is debatable now, the addition of the Rebels will increase the pool of potential Wallabies.
Young halfback Nick Phipps became the fledgling franchise's first Wallaby representative on the current tour before he returned home this week.
"You look at the prize at the end of it, there are a whole group of players who will present themselves in the shape of their lives and playing the rugby of their lives," Deans said.
"It is going to be a competitive environment."
Whoever is picked, the Australians believe their attack-minded approach can buck the trend of grinding teams achieving World Cup success.
Asked if the Wallabies could change that, Deans said: "We are changing it all the time.
"But the critical thing is you have to find a way to get up."
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