New Zealand will not win the next World Cup unless demands on players are eased by changing the format of a relentless rugby year, All Black captain Todd Blackadder said on Wednesday.

"I will probably be crucified for saying it, but if New Zealand rugby keeps going under the same format, under the same demands, I don't believe they will even get close to a World Cup," he said. "I just don't believe it. Somewhere along the line soon someone has got to make a hard decision for the benefit of New Zealand rugby. It's going to take a lot of guts but it's got to be done."

He echoed comments made on Tuesday by former All Blacks captain John Graham, who said the All Blacks brand would continue to suffer if the players were not at their peak when they played for New Zealand.

Graham, head of the Government's taskforce review of sport, suggested the Super 12 competition had to go, or moved so not as to impinge on Test rugby.

Blackadder said rugby officials had to make a call soon or the All Blacks' World Cup chances would fizzle because they would be too exhausted under the current 11-month season. Top players were heading into a new season still stale and carrying injuries each year from the previous season.

"Like everyone, I want to see All Black rugby do well and win the World Cup regardless of who is there. As a New Zealander, I want the best for the guys. We have to act swiftly to end player burn out. We have to have our players fresher than what they are."

Blackadder suggested the traditional end of season overseas tour might be offered to a New Zealand development side instead of the All Blacks. He said he had empathy with All Black coach Wayne Smith, who had too little time to prepare his squad for the upcoming Test against Samoa, Argentina and the Tri-Nations.

"At the end of the Super 12 competition you are absolutely knackered physically and mentally. It's not fair on Smithy and everyone will be baying for his blood and the players' if they don't do well. But I want to see the All Blacks achieve. They are our premier team in New Zealand rugby but if you look at the All Blacks brand in the last four or five years, it probably hasn't reached its optimum for a while."

The All Blacks would be devastating and easily capable of winning their first World Cup away from home in 2003 if the top players were given a chance to freshen up, he said.

Meanwhile, NZRFU chief executive David Rutherford said all the Super 12 coaches would get together with the NZRFU for the first time next month to discuss issues such as resolving player burnout.

Rutherford said he was aware of concerns of burnout raised by top players and coaches. "We are aware of that and the NZRFU have been most vocal about it. The international season structure is critical to that. If we can get a structure that works, we will get a really good break for players. We are working through that process at the moment.

"We will contemplate anything that gives us the right infrastructure. It may mean playing less Test matches. We don't have to play more to make more (money). We have to be smarter about what share of the money we get," Rutherford said.

Cutting back on the commitment of top players have been spoken about for several seasons, but nothing has been done. - Sapa