Wallaby stars deny Super 12 slowdown

LEADING players Stephen Larkham and Matthew Burke have rejected New Zealand suggestions that the defending champion Wallabies were keeping their powder dry ahead of this year’s World Cup and “playing dead” through the Super 12 tournament.

Former All Black front-rower Norm Hewitt said at the weekend that the Australian and South African players were "faking it trying not to get injured or too hyper at the start of a long season".

"They are only putting in 90%, while Kiwi players are putting in 100," Hewitt said.