Super break for Wallabies
Australia's Super Rugby teams could be severely depleted, at least for part of the 2013 competition, if Wallaby coach Robbie Deans gets his way.
According to The Daily Telegraph a number of the Wallabies are set to be rested and rotated by their Super Rugby sides next season to avoid the injury "carnage" suffered in the sport Australia this year.
Robbie Deans revealed urgent player management changes have been the subject talks between Test and state coaches and officials in recent weeks, following the huge injury tolls experienced in an expanded season.
Along with each Super side churning through big numbers of players, the injury-plagued Wallabies used 40 players in 11 Tests this year – the highest in the Rugby Championship.
"In terms of international rugby, it's the first time in 11 years I have encountered this sort of carnage," Deans said.
"And obviously the most obvious change has been the amount of top level rugby, we have the extension of Super Rugby and that change has manifested itself."
In order to arrest an "alarming" trend, Deans said following the player management systems of Ireland and New Zealand had been discussed, where top players are rested throughout domestic competitions.
It is understood Wallabies coaches are keen on having a nominated group of Test stars subject to regular rests and rotation, possibly along the lines of Irish system where stars start only six of eight games, with one game off and one game on the bench.
Asked if he'd like a rest/rotation system to come to be adopted in Australian rugby, Deans said: "It has to, and that's what we're spending a lot of time discussing at the moment.
"It is about the players. Look at Willie (Genia), he played 1280 minutes of Super Rugby."
