Brodie Retallick is back, two weeks earlier than the All Blacks expected
Brodie Retallick is back, two weeks earlier than the All Blacks expected
4 October 2019
The Chiefs lock has been named to start in the second row alongside stand-in captain Sam Whitelock for Sunday's Rugby World Cup test against Namibia in Tokyo.
Coach Steve Hansen says while they initially wanted Retallick fit for the knockout stage, he's been able to recover from a shoulder injury ahead of schedule.
Jordie Barrett starts at first five, with halfback TJ Perenara to provide cover off the bench.
Knockout football's come a fortnight early for the Springboks.
The 'Boks face Italy tonight in Shizuoka , with a defeat likely spelling an early trip home.
Breakers coach Dan Shamir's confident he'll have a full roster at his disposal for the club's preseason trip to the US.
Veteran forward Tom Abercrombie's been nursing a quad injury, but Shamir expects him to play.
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