RUGBY: New Zealand's inspirational captain Tana Umaga will have his appearances "manipulated" by the All Blacks selection panel so he can remain fresh in the run-up to the 2007 World Cup, coach Graham Henry said yesterday.

The 32-year-old centre was named player of the series during the All Blacks 3-0 whitewash of the British and Irish Lions and had already been singled out by Henry as one of the players who needed to be rested at certain times until the World Cup.

Henry has said he is using a rotational policy within the All Blacks to ensure they develop true international depth in every position before the tournament in France.

"We think if we look after him he can last but he has to have the desire to do that," Henry said. "He has been playing international rugby for a long time.

"If we can manipulate his itinerary so he's not overplayed . . . and he doesn't play in every Test and play throughout the Super 14 and the national championship . . . then I think he can go right through." Henry said Umaga had been "astronomical" during the Lions series that ended earlier this month.

"He is an important player. He probably played his best rugby he had ever played in the Lions series. He had never played them before and he was highly motivated.

"(But) he has a lot of good players around him now, who are also good leaders. That gives him the confidence to go out and play."

Henry had said earlier that he had considered resting Umaga for the Tri-Nations, which begins on Saturday when Australia play South Africa in Pretoria. However, Umaga refused, with Henry saying the player was "having nothing of that".

The All Blacks play their first match on August 6th against the Springboks in Cape Town with their final match against Australia on September 3rd.

Many of the squad are expected to appear for their provinces in New Zealand's national championship before reassembling again on October 27th for a Grand Slam tour of Ireland and Britain.

Meanwhile, Henry criticised the New Zealand public's attitude towards the All Blacks and their rivals, describing the nation's rugby fans as "arrogant".

Henry and his squad have been widely praised at home for their whitewash of the Lions and are expected to capitalise on their status as favourites to reclaim the Tri-Nations.

But the former Wales and Lions coach may have been reacting to the weight of such expectation when he said: "Generally speaking, New Zealanders are pretty arrogant about their feelings about the All Blacks and think they're the best team in the world.

"That's not the case, especially since the game has gone professional.

"We also have to give credit to other rugby nations around the world. They can play the game and it's not something New Zealanders acknowledge very often.

"Australia are a much stronger side now, especially over the last few years. England have improved though they've dropped off the pace in the last 18 months. And France. So I think it's just greater competition these days."