The first time Brodie Retallick heard of Ireland’s maiden victory over New Zealand mentioned this week was at Thursday’s press conference in Blanchardstown.
Ireland defeated the All Blacks 40-29 at Soldier Field in Chicago in 2016 in what is the country’s only ever win over New Zealand in 113 years of competitive rugby.
Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton said last month that some of the Irish players will take confidence from beating New Zealand in Chicago and on last summer’s British & Irish Lions tour but Retallick insists it’s a game that has not been mentioned in All Blacks camp.
“It’s been mentioned now,” Retallick replied when asked if the game had been mentioned.
“That’s the first time this week. We’re not going to dwell on Chicago or what happened. It did happen but there’s no point in looking back. We’d rather look forward.”
New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen said earlier in the week that this game would determine which side was the best team in world rugby and Retallick subscribes to the theory and claims that there will be no shortage of an edge when the two sides meet on Saturday.
“Most of us playing this weekend will come ready for Japan and we’ll be keen to get these two games right,” added the Chiefs lock.
“It’s been talked up as one v two and that’s the way we see it. Whoever comes out on top is going to be the number one team. It’s a massive game, as was last week, there will be no shortage of edge on Saturday.”
New Zealand enter the game as six-point favourites with bookmakers and with less than a year to go before next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan head coach Steve Hansen insists his side are on the right track to winning their third consecutive William Webb Ellis Cup.
“Pretty similar to where we were in 2014 when we had a year that everyone said wasn’t great,” said Hansen.
“We still managed to win a lot of games and we’re doing the same thing this year. We’re finding out a lot about ourselves, about our selections, about how we want to play the game.
“So, from a Rugby World Cup point of view we’re on track.”
