Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Brodie Retallick set for extended Super Rugby sideline stint

Brodie Retallick. (Photo by Michael Bradley/Getty Images)

Injured Chiefs co-captain Brodie Retallick has been ruled out of Super Rugby for a further three weeks.

ADVERTISEMENT

Chiefs head coach Colin Cooper confirmed the news on Tuesday as his side prepare to take on the Highlanders in Dunedin this weekend.

Retallick hasn’t featured for the Chiefs since he tore ligaments in his wrist during his side’s 33-29 win over the Blues in Hamilton three weeks ago.

At the time of the injury, Chiefs assistant coach Tabai Matson was confident that the 27-year-old would recover in time to face the Hurricanes in Wellington last weekend, but it appears it is taking longer than expected for the second rower to return to the field.

“Brodie’s probably another three weeks away, so we’re looking at probably the Reds,” Cooper said.

The Chiefs host the Reds at Waikato Stadium on May 24.

Retallick’s extended period on the sideline will be a cause for concern for All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen, with the 73-test veteran firmly etched in New Zealand’s World Cup plans.

He joins Dane Coles (calf), Sonny Bill Williams, Damian McKenzie, Liam Squire, Waisake Naholo (all knee), Owen Franks, Nehe Milner-Skudder (both shoulder) and Sam Cane (neck) in the All Blacks’ casualty ward.

ADVERTISEMENT

McKenzie’s and Cane’s injuries have already heavily-affected the Chiefs so far this season, with the former out until next year’s Super Rugby campaign due to a ruptured ACL.

The latter is yet to feature after breaking his neck while playing for the All Blacks against the Springboks last October.

Their absences at various stages of the year have left Cooper’s men floundering in second-last place with just three wins from 10 matches.

Currently suffering a two-match losing streak, the Chiefs will look to turn things around against the eighth-placed Highlanders at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday.

ADVERTISEMENT

In other news:

Video Spacer

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

N
Nickers 20 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

41 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Freddie Thomas: 'OMFG, I've been selected for Wales - my mum was bawling her eyes out' Freddie Thomas: 'OMFG, I've been selected for Wales - my mum was bawling her eyes out'
Search