Eddie Jones’ bold prediction after Dave Rennie’s Brodie Retallick comments with ’35 the new 30′
Current Japan head coach Eddie Jones and All Blacks centurion Brodie Retallick.
Eddie Jones says that Brodie Retallick’s form has shown that modern day players can maintain their standards for longer amid talk of his All Blacks return.
The Test centurion is currently out of the international reckoning and has been so since the conclusion of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, but new head coach Dave Rennie wants to bring him back home.
Rennie, in his job with Kobelco Kobe Steelers, has watched Retallick play outstandingly well for his side in the Japan Rugby League One.
Almost 35 but still going strong
Jones insists that the All Blacks boss is right to want him back in the equation despite the lock turning 35 in May.
The current Japan head honcho reckons more players will be able to last until well into their 30s even though there are still vast physical demands placed on them.
“It’s almost like 35 is the new 30. Because they’re physically in so much better condition and the good players train 12 months of the year, and they keep getting better,” the ex-England head coach told the Rugby Unity podcast.
“Richie Mo’unga does 360 touches of a ball on a Tuesday morning to get better. They’re committed, they’re obviously earning good money which is incentivising them to play longer.
“I think we’ll see more and more players playing into their mid-30s. The age that we once thought players would decline, particularly for the less obvious speed positions, I think players can play for much longer now.”
Ewen McKenzie joined Jones on the show and he agreed with his fellow former Wallabies boss, insisting that the change in the game has enabled individuals to play longer.
Rugby has become ‘homogenised’
“The way that the game’s set up, players like myself and the way the scrums were – we had twice as many scrums back in the day – the reality is that you pay the price post-rugby,” McKenzie said.
“It’s a more defined game now, everyone’s got similar roles. Everyone can attack the ball, everyone’s got to tackle, everyone’s got to carry the ball – that’s it.
“You’re in the team because you’re a good scrummager, that’s not so relevant anymore. Or your lineout like a Steve Cutler, who was in there because of his lineout.
“They can all be fudged now, you have to be able to carry the ball, you’ve got to be able to tackle well and you’ve got to be able to get around the park, but that’s it.
“That’s homogenised the whole game. I’m not saying that’s a negative thing but that’s the reality. Therefore, you can focus in terms of your preparation, your training and whatever. You can be better prepared physically to be able to play longer.”
READ MORE: Brodie Retallick adds caveat to ‘no consideration’ response to Dave Rennie’s All Blacks return call
