LOCK, ROCK AND BARISTA

BACK IN New Zealand after a two-year stint in Japan, Brodie Retallick is entering the final chapter of his career. A broken thumb disrupted his return to the Chiefs but the World Cup-winning second-row is sure to be a key figure for the All Blacks against Ireland over the coming weeks. He’s also on track to reach the 100-cap milestone later this year before bowing out of Test rugby after the 2023 World Cup. Here the 2014 World Player of the Year talks locks, longevity and lattes…

This was the first time you’ve played Super Rugby since 2019. How much has it changed?

I think it’s always changing. It seems more stop-start the way it’s being refereed. It used to be that we got a lot more free-flowing games and long-distance tries because fatigue sets in after a time. Teams hold the ball for long periods of time and defensive teams give away penalties.

With the way the