Why the fudge should there be any minutes restrictions. The clubs can't do shark, we are within our rights to play them as much or as little as we like, it is all in international windows.
Some clubs make those agreements with national team management depending on the window - workload, recent injury recovery/management is often the reasoning.
Generally feel it's a pretty reasonable request for friendly matches. Don't think you'd get that type of request if they were World Cup Qualifiers or the like though.
I think last night was reasonable to give him an hour and then take him off. Just a bit annoyed we lost momentum, and the game once we rung the changes. Onto Auckland we roll though.