Kiwi rugby bosses are pointing to New Zealand's dominant record to defend the absence or limited playing minutes of their star players in Super Rugby.
While all fit Wallabies internationals took the field for the four Australian teams in the opening round, there was a continuation of the contentious resting policy in New Zealand.
Designed to have leading players at their physical peak for All Blacks duty, it has come in for additional criticism this year after Steve Hansen's team fell short at in the Rugby World Cup semi-finals last October.
TVNZ News reports commentators have questioned the value of NZ Rugby's "load management" policy and claim it devalues a Super Rugby competition desperately in need of its top players as interest and viewership numbers fall across the board.
The restricted minutes hit some teams hard last weekend.
The Blues were leading the Chiefs at Eden Park before captain Patrick Tuipulotu and two-try winger Rieko Ioane were replaced early in the second half, coinciding with a fightback from the visitors.
None of the 11 World Cup All Blacks in action for the Chiefs and Crusaders played more than 47 minutes.
World-class locks Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick won't be seen at all this Super Rugby season, having been cleared to have "sabbatical" stints at Japanese clubs.
Blues star signing Beauden Barrett has been granted extended off-season leave, meaning he won't play five-eighth for the traditional strugglers until mid- April.
[Source: TVNZ]
