Lock Brodie Retallick has returned for the All Blacks in arguably their strongest side for Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final against Ireland in Tokyo.
The three-times world champions gave squad players and those returning from injury some game time and trialled combinations against Canada and Namibia but were unable to field their top side against Italy after the match was cancelled due to Typhoon Hagibis.
The only change to the pack that opened their campaign against South Africa with a 23-13 victory in Yokohama was the selection of Retallick after he returned on October 6 against Namibia from two months out with a dislocated shoulder.
Retallick played 30 minutes in Tokyo before being substituted to manage his playing time but was unable to get more minutes into his legs ahead of the quarter-finals when their final pool match was scrapped.
Ryan Crotty, who started the South Africa game, has been replaced by Jack Goodhue in the midfield with Anton Lienert-Brown playing inside centre.
Captain Kieran Read, who was rested for the Namibia game, returns at No.8 to lead the side in his 125th Test, while the dual playmaker axis of Beauden Barrett at fullback and Richie Mo’unga at five-eighth has been reinstated.
Barrett’s younger brother Jordie, who made his first Test start at five-eighth against Namibia and scored 21 points, has been included on the bench.
Five of the forwards – Read, Retallick, Ardie Savea, hooker Codie Taylor and Sam Whitelock – have been retained from the starting line-up from their 16-9 loss against Joe Schmidt’s side last November.
Halfback Smith, Beauden Barrett, who played five-eighth, and centre Goodhue are the only survivors from the starting backline for that game, which was the first time Ireland had beaten New Zealand in Dublin.
New Zealand (15-1)
Beauden Barrett, Sevu Reece, Jack Goodhue, Anton Lienert-Brown, George Bridge, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (capt), Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Nepo Laulala, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody
Bench: Dane Coles, Ofa Tuungafasi, Angus Ta’avao, Scott Barrett, Matt Todd, TJ Perenara, Sonny Bill Williams, Jordie Barrett.
adam smith
Guest
Could very well be as you said RT. Enjoy the games & the beers mate, hopefully they’ll be celebratory! :thumbup:
Jacko
Guest
Depends what you judge him on....his form to get him into the test side or his form since his injury...Hopefully the coaching staff are seeing him back to full speed etc and thasts why they have gone with him
adam smith
Guest
Speaking of hang-ups & back stories, why didn’t you list which of the All Blacks are English, Irish, Scottish or Welsh. Fact of the matter is everyone in New Zealand is from somewhere else, but that doesn’t suit the chip on your shoulder aye?
RugbyLover
Roar Rookie
probably true TC but I have seen nothing at this WC that makes me believe he is in that sort of form. Same could be said for Crotty I must accept, but Goodhue for me doesn't gel in that backline.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Exceptions have to be made for world cup conditions If you change from 'Paulo' to 'the master' then Ill understand
terrence
Roar Rookie
american sports may have its critics but one thing i always enjoy about american sports coverage is their love affair with backstories..americans have no hang-ups when it comes to acknowledging indigenous sportspeople's cultures, ethnicities and heritage..and particularly their struggles to reach the top of their sport..I think there is a mindset in new zealand - and to a lesser extent australia - to gloss over pacific island players' backstories and attribute all their success to how great rugby coaching and development is in nz..i'd like to read how ardie savea or angus taavao's families' struggled to cope with moving to new zealand, settling in, working low paid jobs in low income neighborhoods, the influence of church and culture as well as juggling to buy rugby boots and pay for rugby development for their kids..i reckon those are the real stories..
TC
Roar Rookie
Terrence..Apples and Oranges..Comparing NFL and Rugby..Try NFL and AFL, both mainly played by One Country, with no real Internationls
TC
Roar Rookie
Terrence..But that American Sports Culture that you love, that embrace and Support Ethnicity..Are mainly African American, the players from Overseas go there to earn So Much more money, then they could at home..If those Athletes then had children in America and they represented America..You would have a Problem?...Beale must be the "Only Australian" if these are the Rules
Rusty
Roar Guru
Ummm so the best players are the weakness?! Im still in the BB is the better 10 club but he certainly isnt a weakness at 15!!
Kane
Roar Guru
I agree. I don’t think an NZ scribe would write an article about the samoans playing NFL. There just isn’t the audience for it. Wouldn’t sell papers. Yeah just like the over representation of Kiwis in the Samoan team. I do fear what will happen to poor Samoa in the next generation. They won’t be able to piggyback off NZ on the grandparent rule and they can’t develop their own talent. Tough times ahead
Jacko
Guest
Terrence name 1 Samoan that plays in the Samoan rugby comp who has made it to the WC? Then name the Samoans who were born in Samoa but play rugby elsewhere...Then the Samoans who were born OS, play OS and play for Samoa.....I think you will find no one in the Samoan squad actually plays rugby in Samoa.......A few born in Samoa but most born in NZ and playing rugby around the world.......High on passion but low on facts
One Eye
Roar Rookie
4 not born in NZ: Ofa (2009), Nepo (2007), Frizell (2017) and Reece (2017) The number in brackets is when they qualified through residency - 3 year requirement so not really even worth a discussion.
One Eye
Roar Rookie
According to Eddie O'Sullivan the weakness is RM and BB! https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2019/1017/1084048-osullivan-this-all-black-team-have-weaknesses/ RM apparently can't kick for territory and play percentages and is only marginally better off the tee than BB and BB isn't involved in the game enough :laughing: You couldn't make this stuff up!
One Eye
Roar Rookie
Also went to see the Cubs victory procession and apparently partied with them during the week...
terrence
Roar Rookie
haha..a kiwi scribe wouldn't be caught dead writing an article like this..when we all know this is true of the all blacks too..over-representation of samoans.. https://gvwire.com/2019/08/15/why-samoans-are-40-times-more-likely-to-play-in-the-nfl/
Kane
Roar Guru
Yeah I agree, Samoa is the worst though.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Fair enough, I think It is also fair to say that the English has 3 Samoans, 2 Australians, 3 Fijians, a Scot, 2 Irish, 4 scandanavians, and -a Welshman.
P2R2
Roar Rookie
I think they are keeping him for the next games....Goodhue is good - he and ALB will be the future face of the ABs centre-pairing...and I believe they will be too much for IRE to handle to be fair..
terrence
Roar Rookie
this is why i like american sports culture..they have no hang ups acknowledging sports people's cultures, heritage and ethnicities..australia to some degree too..new zealand? small country, small minds..very insecure..
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
And then meanwhile across the ditch our Kiwi mates get their selections spot on right ..... AGAIN :)