Retallick not shirty over new jersey
The folks who dreamed-up the radical new design for the All Blacks’ jersey will be pleased with what Brodie Retallick has to say.
The towering lock seems happy enough with the alternate jersey that will be worn against France at Stade de France on Sunday morning (NZT), saying he doesn’t have a problem with the unexpected change.
‘‘It’s the away strip, it’s something different. Personally, I quite like the look of it.’’ Now it’s cards on the table time. Even if they thought that jersey looked revolting, no All Blacks player would be daft enough to risk having an official warning inserted into his file at NZ Rugby headquarters by berating one of their employer’s big-ticket commercial partners.
For all we know the whole squad reckons this outfit really is super.
Some might say it appears to have been put together by the office prankster on a comedown from a bender at the Burning Man festival, who still had enough clarity to ensure that, whatever happened, they had best ensure the main sponsor’s letters were still inserted on the correct angle. Never mind that dinky little silver fern.
When the All Blacks last met France, in the World Cup quarterfinal in Cardiff last year, their opponents were forced to wear an alternate strip of red jerseys and socks and were beaten 62-13.
Retallick expects the French to remind each other of that capitulation this week, as they search for their first win over the All Blacks since they beat them 27-22 in Dunedin in 2010.
‘‘I know if the shoe were on the other foot, we would probably still be hurting. We wouldn’t forget that quickly,’’ Retallick, who has played and beaten France twice in 58 tests, said in reference to the quarterfinal result.
‘‘I’m guessing they would be [hurting], and obviously are playing in France where they would like to upset the All Blacks. They always do. So, I have no doubt it is in the back of their mind, and something they will touch on.’’
NZ Rugby’s apparel sponsor should be most pleased to hear Retallick issue that warning.
Because one of the All Blacks’ most infamous meltdowns against France was when they wore the alternate platinum strip in their 20-18 loss in the World Cup quarterfinal in Cardiff in 2007. That design was immediately canned, never to be sighted again.
France have never conquered the All Blacks in Paris, and haven’t beaten them on French soil since rolling them 42-33 in Marseille in 2001.
Their previous victory in their own country was the infamous 16-3 victory in Nantes in 1986, when Buck Shelford was sliced in an area usually reserved only for a scalpel during a sterilisation procedure.
Retallick and those other All Blacks involved in last year’s World Cup tournament are well aware of what the French did in 2007, a reminder that when they hum they can be unstoppable.
‘‘I think it is on the back of every rugby person’s mind, with the quarterfinal at the World Cup that (the 2007 game) was all everyone was talking about,’’ he said.
‘‘The previous history. So there is no way we can cut any corners this week.’’
Then there was the 1999 World Cup semifinal in London, another shock win for the French. Another reminder of what they can do.
Meanwhile, the judicial hearing for Sam Cane and Malakai Fekitoa, who were cited for alleged dangerous tackles during the 21-9 win over Ireland in Dublin last weekend has been shifted to Tuesday in London local time. Retallick said the uncertainty, and the chance midfielder Fekitoa will join the injured Cane in the stands, hadn’t affected preparations.
‘‘Not so much. We have got boys, if it is a worst-case scenario and they are out, that can come in and fill their spot and do the job.’’