Brodie Retallick

Where...

If that was around when I was coming through, there's every chance that Brodie Retallick gets lost through the cracks.

Bowden Barrett, potentially lost through the cracks.

Those guys were not New Zealand schools and potentially identified as potential All Blacks.

They're like, watch this guy up and come in.

So was it Brodie Retallick who was once asked what he thought of the England team and the only player he knew the name of was, I think he said the only players he knew the name of were Rowan Farrell and Michael Laws, who is a Kiwi politician.

He didn't even know Courtney Laws' name.

He

Um, but it's, they could still play for the All Blacks.

What's the big deal? What if Brodie Retallick, how good would it have had to been him playing for the All Blacks the last couple of years?

I definitely think that we can look into more exemptions, as that's where I would be inclined.

I'd say, you know, 100 test AB, yeah man, do whatever the fuck you want.

Definitely not the answer at six.

How would a second row of Fabian and Brodie Retallick Look at the World Cup.

Well, I think, yeah, I think Brodie Retallick would be massive for this All Blacks team right now.

He'd just be the type of player who could take on the box, I think.

I rate Patrick Tuipulotu, but he hasn't shown me... enough i don't think in the last couple of tests i don't think he'd be in my starting side in terms of locks i know fabian holland was obviously sick so that kept him out of that match uh sam derry i thought was was good enough um but i'm not sure you feel about any of that melzi

And the other fact, thing is fear factor.

Who in the Springboks are looking across during the half game and thinking, "Geez, that guy's gonna hit me today"? You know, we don't have a Jerry Collins, a Jerome Kaino, a Brodie Retallick.

Um, yes, Os du Randt is kind of damaging them with his running game, but I'm talking about a tackle or a clean-out that he puts your head on a swivel, makes you think twice.

And I think that's maybe why as soon as Dave Rennie got the job, on day one, he was talking about getting Brodie Retallick back.

And so I think he knows that that's where, uh, we have, um, I guess, a lot to make up for.

And, uh, m- and even probably getting a yardage forward like Jasper Wiese.

And I mean in the kind of professional era, I don't think they have the same level of game breakers that they had previously, and they definitely don't have a tight five.

I saw a great piece somewhere where there was a comment about we have taken Brodie Retallick and Whitelock for granted because I don't think second rows get quite the plaudits they get for how instrumental they are in the overall architecture and performance in a game.

And when you have a functioning pair like that, you go back to Ireland at our pomp, you can go to Paulie, Donnacha, Mal O'Kelly being like intrinsic to that.

You look at England, Martin Johnson, Ben Kay.