The All Blacks selectors say captain Richie McCaw would have been rested if New Zealand were playing this weekend.
McCaw has played every minute of all seven All Blacks matches in 2012 and his body took another battering in the weekend's win over the Springboks in Dunedin.
However the Rugby Championship draw has been kind to the All Blacks with Steve Hansen's men getting a week off before travelling to Buenos Aires for their match against Argentina at the end of the month.
Number eight Kieran Read says while they've all but sewn up the title and there are a few battered bodies in the squad, he doesn't want to see too much rotation in the side and is happy they have the week off to recover, especially as it means the All Blacks will have their skipper for their next match.
