Excerpt from an article by DUNCAN JOHNSTONE - co-editor of Rugby Heaven.co.nz - in Stuff.co.nz Sunday, 25 November 2007.

Unbelievable? Inconceivable? Just plain stupid? A great idea that failed? How many games do players need to play to reach their peak?

“Some startling statistics reveal how Graham Henry’s controversial reconditioning and rotation policies left his All Blacks squad severely under-done for the rigours of a world cup.

“The starting XV who lost their quarterfinal to France averaged just over 12 games each for the entire year.

“It’s an indictment on the system when game time for a workaholic player like Jerry Collins is 1011 minutes the equivalent of less than 13 games of rugby.

“But there are some even more damning figures. First-choice halfback Byron Kelleher played the equivalent of just 8.5 games this year before heading off to his lucrative French club deal.

“Senior hooker Anton Oliver played the equivalent of just 10.6 matches.

“Injuries and troubled Super 14 selections contributed to seriously restrict Joe Rokocoko, whose time on the paddock panned out to be 10.2 matches while his Blues team-mate Ali Williams was left with 591 minutes of rugby 7.3 matches.

“Ironically the busiest player this season was Doug Howlett who packed in 1720 minutes the equivalent of 21.5 matches.

“Skipper Richie McCaw had a busy season despite being reconditioned. He started in 17 matches, played in 19 and got in 1288 minutes of action.