'I didn't have to do much work for it': Retallick downplays try
Retaining the Bledisloe Cup before heading over to Australia was always on the All Blacks‘ wish list, and after Saturday night’s 57-22 win over the Wallabies at Eden Park, that is now reality with the prized possession safe for another year.
All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick, who knows of nothing other than Bledisloe Cup success since the start of his career, was glad to have sealed the deal for another season without taking the series to a deciding test in Perth.
“It’s awesome to lock it up. To do it before heading to Perth in New Zealand is something that was a goal we wanted to do before hopping on the plane,” Retallick told media following the win.
“I thought it was a great Bledisloe test tonight. Australia really come out of the gates in the first 50-60 minutes so that was pleasing.”
Retallick has had some of his career highlights in Bledisloe Cup test matches, famously scoring from a 40 metre run in Sydney a few years ago which was voted World Rugby’s Try of the Year in 2018.
After originally getting the turnover at the ruck, the 30-yea-old got the ball on the left edge after his side ran it out of their half through Beauden Barrett.
Throwing a dummy to Bernard Foley, Retallick galloped away with his arm raised triumphantly in the air.
On whether his latest try was as good as one from a few years ago, the 85-test international was reluctant to say so as he “didn’t have to do much work” after loose forward Akira Ioane created the break down the left edge.
After some quick hands from Damian McKenzie, Retallick had an open line in front of him to score the try.
“Well I didn’t have to do much work for it,” he said of his latest effort, “Akira did all the work, but it’s nice to get a meat pie again, that’s for sure.”
The try was reminiscent of some of the runs Retallick made in the Top League earlier this year, where his athletic frame was used out side in an offload-friendly game plan at the Kobelco Steelers.
After his time playing in Japan, Retallick said he is relishing being back home playing for the All Blacks.
“Just being back in New Zealand and playing for the All Blacks is awesome. I think you can see it from the sideline, the boys are just enjoying have great fun out there tonight. There’s still things to tidy up and get better but playing Bledisloe test matches is pretty awesome and I’m loving being back.”
Despite discipline issues last week, the All Blacks coaches were reluctant to make changes to the run-on side in the forward pack, as loose forwards Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii and Ardie Savea and front rowers George Bower, Codie Taylor and Nepo Laulala played their second test in a row together.
Retallick said he has been impressed with the “outstanding” form of Akira Ioane, who has given the All Blacks consistent, strong carries alongside No 8 Ardie Savea.
“Last week I thought he was outstanding, and again tonight with plenty of ball-in-hand,” Retallick said of Ioane.
“He’s taken his opportunity, and when you’ve got loose forwards puncturing the backs in the outside channel, it makes it easier through the middle.
“It’s awesome to watch, and like you say, I’m sure he’s going to keep building on it and we’ve got plenty of challenges ahead of us for the rest of the test year.”
Retallick paired with long-time lock partner Sam Whitelock in the second row as the pack looked to lift their performance following the inaccuracy issues that were prevalent in the first test, something that Retallick himself contributed to as the most penalised man in the All Blacks.
“Last week we gave them a lot of opportunities through our discipline, especially in the forward pack around our offsides and our set piece penalties. It wasn’t a massive thing to tidy up but there was a lot of them last week,” he said.
“We worked hard all week at that and the Wallabies threw a lot more at us up front early on, which I thought was pleasing, we absorbed a little bit.
“Especially around our lineout defence and coming off the line. There were still periods where they carried through us, probably a bit too softly, but I thought it was a step up for the forward pack moving forward.
“Like you say, we’ve got a week off and then to Perth. That’s going to be another challenge but what is more pleasing is what we put on the park tonight compared to last week.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
34 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
34 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments