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Brodie Retallick a Rugby World Cup doubt after brutal ruck injury
By Ian Cameron
Doubt has been cast on Brodie Retallick's Rugby World Cup participation after he appeared to suffer a nasty shoulder during New Zealand's Rugby Championship match with South Africa in Wellington.
The All Blacks and the Springboks drew the match 16 - 16 in front a sold-out Westpac Stadium, but the potential loss of the secondrow will be riding high in Steve Hansen's thoughts.
Retallick was left clutching his shoulder after a clearout at a ruck by Springbok lock RG Snyman in the 60th minute.
The Chiefs lock - clearly in a significant amount of pain - was attended to by medics but was soon removed from the field before being replaced by hooker Dane Coles.
Retallick was playing his 200th first-class match.
His loss would represent a massive blow for the All Blacks going into the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
A Rugby World Cup 2015 winner and the New Zealand and World Player of The Year in 2014, 28-year-old Retallick is now into his eighth season of professional rugby and been a powerhouse player ever since making his professional debut as a 21-year-old in 2012.
He played his 75th Test in the last game of 2018 and was one of a number of recent leading players who have committed long-term to New Zealand Rugby.
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In 2018 former England fullback Ben Foden shocked the rugby world when he confirmed a switch to the newly formed Rugby United New York and Major League Rugby, America's latest professional rugby venture.
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Latest Comments
I so wish we could use BIG words here to say what an absolute %^$# this guy is, but we can't so I won't.
Go to commentsGet world rugby to buy a few Islands in the Mediterranean. Name them Rugby Island #1, #2, #3 etc. All teams are based there all season and as the knockouts progress, losers go home for a few months rest. Sell the TV rights to any and all.
Have an open ballot/lottery each week to fly fans out to fill the stadiums. They get to enter the draw if they pay their taxes and avoid crime which would encourage good social engagement from rugby supporters as responsible citizens. The school kids get in the draw if they are applying themselves at school and reaching their potential.
Or maybe there is some magic way to prioritise both domestic rugby and international rugby by having the same players playing for 12 months of the year...
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