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Deans dismisses rotation scare

Paris -  Wallabies coach Robbie Deans admits there will be "fear-mongering" if a plan to have Super Rugby players rotated during the season is approved but says a fine-tuned version of what he's proposing should go ahead.

Deans last week floated the idea of rotating players during the next Super Rugby season to limit their workloads as the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) seeks to avoid a repeat of this year's huge injury toll.

It prompted NSW coach Michael Cheika to say franchises would have to be financially compensated if they were left without their top players, particularly if provinces' bottom lines were affected.

Deans said on Thursday it was important to wait until specific details of the proposal were fleshed out before getting too carried away.

"There will be fear-mongering - it will occur. There's nothing to it," Deans said.

"The reality is, where we finish up from a franchise perspective, will be better than what we discussed [last week].

"There's nothing to it. I understand Michael being an advocate for the Waratahs."

Cheika said he was confident in the Waratahs' ability to manage their players' workloads successfully but was happy to discuss the proposal.

"If that is the way the ARU decide to go, then they need to come up with some financial security and assurances," he said.

"I am the coach of this province and I will do whatever it takes for this province to be successful.

"I understand that everyone is looking after their own kind but, at the end of the day, if this province is successful, that will help Australia be successful."


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