What logic is there to bringing back Brodie Retallick

Retallick was our best ever lock - hes a shoe in on the bench in next years RWC - His selection would seriously bring us back up into the reckoning to win our 4th Title

Here is the team to do it.

1.Degroot

2.Taylor

3.Newell

4. Lord

5. DEARNS ( He would be my Number 1 Pick ) / Holland /Vai

6. Flanders ( forget about F S & S F & Parker all journeymen)

7. Savea

8. Lakai

9. Roigard

10 Love / J Barrett

11. Fehi

12.Tava

13. Tupeau ( forget about Proctor - the Sullivans are better )

14. Tangitau / K T

15. Jordan/ J Barrett

Bench

16. Lomax

17. Williams

18. Takukeiaho

19. Retallick/Tuipoluto (forget about S Barrett)

20.Howden

21. Hotham

22. Faingaanuku

23. Mckenzie

Depth! Crying out for impact forwards off a 6/2 bench. Guzzler would be perfect if up to scratch.

Just for the tour Depth thats all. nothing wrong with Retallick he is in real terms the best lock thats ever been, hes like a McCaw hes relentless never stops working and always makes a difference and almost always stands out from the rest and has the biggest ‘motor’. Hes basically like McCaw but hes a lock.

Hamish,

If you look at the AB’s under Razor, they started most games well, were competitive for 55 mins with the power game but then fell off from around the 50 min mark.

This suggests either the (forward) players didn’t have the fitness to play the way Razor wanted, or the bench was fundamentally weaker than the opposition, whilst questions were also raised about the captaincy and on field leadership last season.

Whilst Rassie has been the Master of this since 2019, when you saw the difference of ENG bringing their stronger bench on for the last 30 mins, it was a real game changer and most of last years improvement (before the 6N’s) was about adding an extra 2 or 3 players who strengthen the bench (Pollock, Pepper & Coles) - that was basically the difference.

When I watched the AB’s last season, the tactics felt off, they struggled for balance in the back row 6/7/8 and they struggled for balance in midfield 10/12/13. The 5|3 bench split also looked to be compounding the problem, which led to the Q4 & H2 fall-off in games - the stats don’t lie on this one.

Whilst i think Rennie may need to maintain the 5|3 split whilst he finds his best centre combo’s, I actually think he will eventually shift to a 6|2 split and follow the pack.

Let’s just assume he ends 6|2, with a starting back row of say Va’i, Lakai & Sititi, you could literally bring on the replacement front row, Retallick & Tuipulotu (who would bring a lot more energy and increase the defensive capability), whilst bringing Ardie off the bench (which Tuipulotu could also cover at 6 for injury purposes) and I think that would make quite a big difference immediately.

That would be a game changing bench and would go a long way to resolve the Q3/Q4 fades you saw last year, whilst bringing a lot of experience and leadership from the pine to close out games.

I think if you look at this as Retalick as a starter, you can quickly get lost in the pro’s & con’s, if you look at it as him as an impact player off the bench, you can see why Rennie is so desperate to include him and the upside becomes fairly obvious.

The way that man is playing in Japan I think getting him back would be a fantastic idea and its just for this world cup cycle. Alot of the players mentioned are still very young. They will have their time in black over the next 2 or possibly 3 cycles and can be a part of the wider squad depth. Nothing wrong in bringing back a proven winner who adds immense leadership and experience

He needs to earn his spot like everyone else.

If we can bring Retallick back, there’s no question to be asked. We’re talking about one of the greatest locks in the history of the game. He’s not just an average player.

The only question is whether he’s still physically fit enough to play at Test level. According to Rennie, yes — he says he’s never been stronger.

Having a fit Retallick, after Mo’unga and Frizell, would be another significant boost for the All Blacks.

I’d like to point out that Brad Thorn was the same age as Retallick in 2010/2011, and he was performing at a very high level.

Bidwells comments are always short and sweet, and he appears to be finally coming to some realizations.

Anyone else notice that same things playing out that happened with Whitelock and Barrett with Razor?

The logic is very apparent. Experience and leadership. If you want to win the series against SA in SA you need experience and leadership.

Darry 8 caps, Lord 12 caps, Holland 12 caps, Hannah no caps are inexperienced. The only experienced locks are Barrett, Vai and Tuipulotu. Holland, Barrett and Tuipulotu are in rehab and will be probably underdone. The situation is crying for another experienced lock.

It only makes sense if Rennie doesn’t see the other locks at his current level.

Yes tend to agree with you great as he was.