Brodie Retallick ‘mentally refreshed’ after Japan stint

All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick insists that he is raring to go after being named in the squad for the upcoming games against Tonga and Fiji.

Retallick has not featured for New Zealand since the 2019 World Cup after spending a two-year sabbatical in Japan.

The second-row is now the wrong side of 30 but hopes his stint in Asia will allow him to be in top form going into the next global tournament in 2023.

A breath of fresh air

“It was awesome,” the 81-times capped international told reporters. “Mentally I feel really refreshed. It was a bit of a breath of fresh air going over there: different ideas, different voices, new challenges.

“The break between the first and second seasons was a bit longer because of Covid and I hope to reap the rewards of that with my body now. I feel like it’s in a good spot.”

New Zealand rugby is renowned for its ball-in-hand approach but Retallick’s coach at Kobelco Steelers, Wayne Smith, stated that the lock had to lose weight to keep up with the pace of the game in Japan.

“They played a pretty expansive brand of footy over there, and there was a fair bit of open space,” Retallick said. “When we came back after the first season I had about seven months back in New Zealand and had time to have a break, not train too much, and then have a great pre-season. So the body and fitness is in a good spot.”

Retallick has hinted at international retirement after the 2023 World Cup in France and insists that those plans have not changed.

“That was the plan before leaving,” he said. “It was a four-year view: go there, have a bit of a break and change of scenery, then come back and go hard for a couple. I’ll be doing everything I can to make sure it plays out like that.

“I haven’t had any niggles while I’ve been away, and the break was good. Touch wood it hangs in, because I’ve pretty much done everything I can to keep it together and get stronger and fitter.”

Ian Foster has named a strong squad for their July games, with fellow experienced locks Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett and Patrick Tuipulotu also in the mix.

Tupou Vaa’i, at the age of 21, is by far the youngest and could be given a chance to prove himself in matches they are expected to win comfortably.

However, Retallick says that he is ready should Foster go with the tried and tested for the encounters with Tonga and Fiji.

“I’m ready if I’m picked,” he added. “Whether I will be or not, that’s not my decision. But I’m ready to start playing whenever I’m needed.”