Brodie Retallick back in light training ahead of clash with Italy in Rome
Tuesday 8 November 2016 15:00, UK
Brodie Retallick is hopeful of being fit to return to the New Zealand side for their clash with Italy in Rome on Saturday.
The All Blacks were forced to move flanker Jerome Kaino into the second row against Ireland in Chicago last Saturday, where a 40-29 defeat meant an end to their 18-game winning streak.
Coach Steve Hansen praised Kaino for his out-of-position display, which came because Retallick and Sam Whitelock were missing through injury and probable replacement Luke Romano had to return home because of a family bereavement.
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Retallick, who was missing because of a concussion, is back in light training but yet to resume contact sessions.
"So far, so good," Retallick said. "I am running fine but have not done any contact or collision stuff yet. The next couple of days will be critical."
Retallick's return would boost the New Zealand pack, but assistant coach Ian Foster says there is every chance Hansen will opt to give fringe members of his tour party a chance in Rome.
Foster says the All Blacks are still "hurting" after their Soldier Field disappointment but admitted that will not stop Hansen making wholesale changes for the first game on the European leg of their tour.
Foster wonders if mental fatigue was partly behind their disappointing display at Soldier Field, where he felt New Zealand - for the first time in more than a year - became "predictable".
"Our belief has always been that we need a lot of freshness to get our performance right," Foster said ahead of Hansen's squad announcement for the game in Rome.
"Coming off a loss - that hurts. But it doesn't change our attitude about using the full resources of our squad to get through this tour. If you bring guys over you really want to give them an opportunity."
