Seven Rhinos players were on duty in last Friday's France versus England Test in Toulouse and McClennan opted not to use any of them against Castleford Tigers at Headingley Carnegie the following evening.

Ten of the England team backed up for their club side.

St Helens rested Leon Pryce against Huddersfield Giants on Sunday, but their five other England stars all played and Warrington Wolves' Adrian Morley and Martin Gleeson, Peter Fox (Hull KR) and Sam Burgess (Bradford Bulls) were also in club action just two days after the Test.

Leeds' tactic paid off when their young team beat Tigers 18-12 – and McClennan feels it was a double whammy.

The England players are back in contention for Friday's crunch trip to Wigan Warriors and McClennan said: "We chose not to play them in the game last Saturday.

"Our international players are sticking to the one game a week and that's good.

"We will do things our way and how the other clubs decide to it, that's their business.

"That is the way we wanted to do it and I don't feel it was a gamble, personally.

"I think the whole competition dipped in standard after Easter (when teams played three times in a week).

"We had seven players – six for England and Eric Anselme with France – involved in the international and we wanted to look after their health.

"Also, you've got to remember the travel arrangements. We played a day earlier than a lot of other clubs and the players had to get from London up to here.

"We did what we did, the young guys got a chance and the internationals got a rest. Now we've got Wigan on Friday and we can concentrate on that."

McClennan revealed Rhinos' England contingent returned to Leeds fully fit and will all be included when he names his 19-man squad today.

"They were very honoured to represent their country," said the coach. "It was a very successful competition and week for them.

Experience

"England played very well in the Test, it was good for them and they've come back with a lot of confidence.

"Now they can concentrate fully on the club until the end of the year, when the World Cup comes up.

"It has been good for them and good for us. Whenever you can have players representing their country, your team always gets a lot of benefits.

"The players gain experience from playing in these games and they bring it back to their club, so there's positives all round."

Meanwhile, McClennan believes full-back Ben Jones-Bishop, who made his Super League debut against Castleford, is an England prospect in the making.

"He is a good young talent," said the coach.