Rugby
Deans dismisses rotation scare
2012-11-09 08:15
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."