Retallick eyes ‘ideal’ Italy return
Steve Hansen says quarterfinal; Brodie Retallick is aiming for even earlier.
Either way, the outlook for what might be the final piece in the All Blacks’ World Cup puzzle is a lot brighter than it was just a week ago.
Retallick was named on Wednesday in Hansen’s 31-strong All Blacks squad for the World Cup in Japan which the back-to-back champions will open with a clash against the Springboks in Yokohama on September 21.
But with the 28-year-old, 77-test lock still recovering from a dislocated shoulder suffered in the 16-16 draw against South Africa in Wellington on July 27, the timeline for his return remains clouded. At the squad announcement the All Blacks coach was definitely toeing a conservative line.
‘‘We don’t expect him to play in the round-robin, but we’re reasonably sure he should make the quarterfinals, and from there we don’t know,’’ Hansen said.
‘‘We’ve rolled the dice and we’ll see what happens. We think he’s worthy of that risk.’’
But Retallick has revealed he is hopeful of playing in the All Blacks’ final pool game (against Italy on October 12) to give himself a blowout ahead of the knockout rounds.
‘‘That would be ideal,’’ Retallick said.
‘‘For the quarterfinals there’s a lot of pressure on, and it would be good to blow the lungs out in a pool game if possible. But I’ll take whatever I get to.’’
The big lock said he appreciated Hansen’s more conservative target because it removed the pressure of racing against the clock for an earlier return.
‘‘If it happens quicker, which I’m hopeful for, then great. But if we put an earlier date on it and don’t make it, it can become frustrating,’’ he added.
‘‘I’m hopeful it’s before then, and I’m in the best place to get it right here.’’