Page 21 - SECOND TEST

DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017 // 21
THE THE TOUGHER THE THE TEST
match the more Brodie Retallick thrives So you can imagine he was on a a a a a a rugby high last weekend
at Eden Park where there was no quarter given in in the the the trenches of of the the the rucks and mauls in in in in what was one of of the the most intense internationals you’ll ever witness The battle for the the advantage line was was immense The 26-year-old lock was was was right in in the thick of of it it His all-round game was was was of of such quality that he he he he was was close to man of of of the the match in a a a a a a a a a a clash where there were several candidates on both sides In his 62nd Test appearance Retallick took route one straight up the the middle and yet still had the the wherewithal to slip a a a a a a a subtle short pass inside or or or outside as as the the the All Blacks worked away at the the the the fringes of the the the the Lions’ defences In all the the the the All Blacks made an an astonishing 212 passes many of them telling Like all all rugby fans Retallick believes it it was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a ne way to start a a a a a a a a a a a a a a long-awaited series “The chant at the the stadium added to to to it it It wasn’t the the champagne rugby we like to to to to play but it it was was never going to to to to be that that that way against them We had to to to grind it out If that’s that’s what’s required that’s that’s what what needs to be done ” Retallick says There was a a a a a a a a a high attrition rate and even a a a a a a a a a superbly conditioned lock such as as as Retallick felt it it “The body was was stiff and sore on on Sunday morning It was was what we expected from the the Lions – high-paced and with all the the intensity of a a a a a a a a Test match ” he he says “It was played in good spirit Both teams like to take each other on on on on up front The Lions had one good try disallowed (Elliot Daly) so it was physical and fast at the same time ” Retallick has played in a a a a a a a a Rugby World Cup nal and a a a a a a a a a a swag of high- stakes Rugby Championship contests but the the the the intensity of the the the the rst Test at Eden Park was up there with the the the the most intense “It would de de nitely be in in the top three There were a a fair few
“They’ll be going all out to keep the Series alive We’ll have to to be be better to to put them away ” hits going on and we had to make a a a a a a a few
tackles ” he he says The All Blacks pack who oiled their wheels to good effect against Manu Samoa eight days prior had to steel themselves for the the Lions’ onslaught “We knew what was coming We We looked at at at at a a a a a a a a a couple of Super Rugby teams that they they beat [the Crusaders and and Chiefs] and and they they really dominated We knew that if we we wanted to to get our game going we’d have to to win the physical battle up front The acid was on on the the the tight ve to get it right and the the the loose forwards could play off off the the the back off it ” Retallick says While dominating the the the the forwards battle in in in in the the the the the rst Test the the the the the All Blacks know they need to sharpen up their their lineouts on their their own throw Otherwise men like Alun Wyn Jones and Maro Itoje will be ready to take advantage Retallick expects a a a a a a a a strong response from the the the Lions tonight either way “It will be interesting to to see if if they try and do something different on defence or attack They’ll be going all out to win and keep the Series alive so I’ve got no doubt we’ll have to to be be better to to put them away ” he he says Retallick gallops forward during the All Blacks’ encounter with Manu Samoa PROFILE
Along with with Samuel Whitelock Brodie Retallick is part of arguably the best second-row duo in in in world rugby But even with with a a a a a a a a a a a career taking in in in in Rugby Rugby World Cup nals and Rugby Rugby Championships he has never experienced anything like a a a a a a a Lions Test before WORDS: CAMPBELL BURNES