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Brodie Retallick's mammoth performance bodes well for Chiefs and All Blacks

By Sam Smith
Brodie Retallick. (Photo by Jeremy Ward/Photosport)

Fears of Brodie Retallick’s demise may have been somewhat premature – if the big All Black lock’s performance against the Waratahs on Saturday afternoon is anything to go by.

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Retallick had been one of New Zealand’s top performers from the time he was first called up into the national squad in 2012 until a serious shoulder injury suffered in the lead-up to the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Retallick eventually made a return to the field during that showpiece tournament but struggled to ignite his play after so much time on the sidelines.

The 31-year-old spent the following two seasons in Japan, finally returning for the All Blacks last year, but still never looked quite up to his old standards. While no one would question Retallick’s industry or accuracy, the big plays that he was so well known for during his formative years were few and far between.

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2022 loomed as an opportunity for Retallick to get back to his best with a full season of Super Rugby with the Chiefs on the cards but an injury suffered just six games into the campaign would not have helped the second-rower’s cause.

Retallick returned to the field last week against the Fijian Drua and quietly went about his business but it was against the Waratahs on Saturday that his performance would have put a smile on All Blacks coach Ian Foster’s face. The big man was instrumental in the Chiefs forwards building ascendency over their Australian counterparts, putting in one especially punishing hit on Waratahs fullback Ben Donaldson, and was carrying and passing the ball with the dominance and accuracy that everyone has come to expect.

The man himself acknowledged that it was an enjoyable game to be involved in, especially playing in front of the Hamilton faithful for just the second time since the 2019 Super Rugby season.

“It was an enjoyable win and it’s awesome to be playing finals footy in Hamilton,” Retallick said in the post-match wash-up with Sky Sport.

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“It’s a sacred ground to us, we love playing here and I think I’ve only played one game here this year and I got injured so it’s great to be back running around and get the win to move on.

“It was a lot easier playing out here tonight than it was last week in Fiji but it’s great just to be playing footy again, I’m loving it.”

The Chiefs went into the match anticipating a hefty challenge from the New South Welshman – who won zero matches last year but picked up eight victories in 2022, including securing a rare victory over the Crusaders.

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“I think we knew the Waratahs were awesome defensively – I think they lead the statistics around the ruck and the breakdown so we knew we had to be tough there,” Retallick said. “That was just a great Chiefs pack performance.

“It’s play-off footy and the teams that’s most physical normally comes out on top.”

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When quizzed on whether he had a preference for who the Chiefs would play in the semi-finals, Retallick indicated that a trip south would perhaps be the favourable outcome.

“I don’t think it really matters, to be fair,” he said. “We’ll play whoever we need to.

“I guess if it is the Crusaders, we’re one and one; we beat them down there, they came up here and beat us so I’d love to go down to Christchurch.”

With the Blues securing a comfortable win over the Highlanders in the Saturday evening match, the Chiefs will indeed head to Christchurch next Friday for what looms as a titanic battle full of feeling with the Crusaders.

If the Chiefs are to have any hope of securing a win, however, they’ll need to get the best out of Retallick – a man who might be coming under pressure from some of the Chiefs’ young All Blacks locks, Tupou Vaa’i and Josh Lord.

Retallick’s strong performance against the Waratahs won’t necessarily quell the suggestions that he’s lost some of his luster – it will take some back-to-back showcases to understandably silence any critics but a similar showing against the Crusaders will certainly help his cause.

With Sam Whitelock and Scott Barrett also vying for locking spots down at the Crusaders and the first All Blacks squad of the season set to be named on Monday, now is the perfect time for Brodie Retallick to quickly find some blinding form – both he and the Chiefs may be depending on it.

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Trevor 5 minutes ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 4 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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