Retallick returns from six-week lay-off
New Zealand lock Brodie Retallick will return to action with the Chiefs on Friday after a six-week lay-off.
Retallick, the 2014 World Rugby Player of the Year, suffered a pectoral injury against the Crusaders in Super Rugby on June 2, ruling him out of the All Blacks' series against France.
But the 27-year-old has been selected to start at number four in the Chiefs side to face rivals the Hurricanes in Hamilton.
The Hurricanes are five points clear of the Chiefs in the New Zealand Conference, heading into this final fixture, although both teams are assured of a post-season place.
The Chiefs squad to face the Hurricanes is:
15. Solomon Alaimalo
14. Toni Pulu
13. Anton Lienert-Brown
12. Charlie Ngatai (co- capt)
11. Shaun Stevenson
10. Marty McKenzie
9. Brad Weber
8. Jesse Parete
7. Mitchell Karpik
6. Lachlan Boshier
5. Tyler Ardron
4. Brodie Retallick
3. Angus Taavao
2. Liam Polwart
1. Sam Prattley
Reserves:
16. Samisoni Taukei'aho
17. Karl Tu'inukuafe
18. Jeff Thwaites
19. Michael Allardice
20. Liam Messam
21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
22. Tiaan Falcon
23. Johnny Faauli
In other news:
Latest Comments
Skelton may be brought back for the Wallabies so that would be the only reason that may hinder Wilson. Easily the form, most skilful and game IQ of any Oz 8. Valentini’s best and favourite position is 6, but lineouts may be an issue with Skelton, Valentini and Wilson. Will be interesting what Schmidt goes for but for me Wilson should be picked on form. Schmidt rewards work rate, skill and consistency. All that glitters every so often won’t be in contention. Greely is one of those players that has a knack of making the right decision. A coach is going to love him because he knows week in week out he’s going to get the job done. The second try Greely wasn’t the guy who made the initial break it was Flook, Greely was at the bottom of the ruck when Flook was off along the sideline. Greely got up and made the effort to catch up with play but also read the play nicely and hit the pass from Campbell at pace and then held the pass beautifully to Ryan.
Go to commentsSharks deserved to be far further back by the last quarter. Their tackling was awful, their set pieces were disappointing, their defensive organization was poor (especially on the Kok side of the D line), they kept making unnecessary errors, and they never looked like cracking the Clermont defense during those first 60m. Masuku kept them in touch, with some help from the Clermont generosity on penalty opportunities. Agree with the writer of this article. It was belligerence, and ability to raise their pressure game just enough, that turned the last quarter into a Bok-style shutout. Clermont have a reputation of not playing the full 80m, and there was a bit of that for sure. But, quite often when the intensity of a team drops off in the last quarter credit is due to the opponent for tiring them out. At 60m, with the Kok try, you thought that just maybe the game was on. At 70m, with the Mapimpi contribution, one felt that Clermont were fading, while facing a team that would maintain the pressure game through the final whistle. Good win in the end, but the Sharks are still playing way below their potential. And with their resources, and a coach that has had enough time to figure things out, they are running out of excuses.
Go to comments