NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Premium
Home / Sport / Rugby / All Blacks

Rugby: All Blacks ready to confront 'unknown' northern foes

Liam Napier
By Liam Napier
Senior Sports Journalist·NZ Herald·
12 Oct, 2021 05:00 PM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick. Photo / Photosport

All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick. Photo / Photosport

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The All Blacks returned to training, following a week off on the Sunshine Coast, knowing their imminent five-test northern tour will provide another telling yardstick to measure their dented credentials.

Setting aside the next test against the USA in Washington DC on October 23 that's expected to be something of a training exercise, the first taste of Northern Hemisphere opposition in two years will reveal much more about the All Blacks' development, and their ability to cope with contrasting, suffocating styles.

Senior lock Brodie Retallick is keen to embrace the challenges that accompany the All Blacks' first northern tour since 2018. The best of rugby's north versus south last met at the 2019 World Cup after the global pandemic scrubbed out reciprocal tours since.

"It's going to be massive in terms of understanding where this group is at and also growing our game," Retallick said. "We played Australia and Argentina who were a similar style to us and then South Africa plays different to the rest of us. Heading to Europe they'll probably play a similar game. It will be different conditions, probably cold and wet, so it'll be hugely important to measure ourselves and a great learning opportunity for the squad."

As he prepares to rejoin the team following his comeback match for Wellington last week, All Blacks hooker Dane Coles can't wait to resume hostilities with the north.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"It's a bit of an unknown," Coles said of a tour that features tests against Wales, Italy, Ireland and France. "We didn't play any of those teams last year and not many of the boys would have seen much of the Six Nations. We'll have to adapt and adjust to the teams we play and there will be a few guys who haven't played in the Rugby Championship who will get a run as well. I'm really looking forward to getting back in there."

After a week off in Noosa, the All Blacks held an open training session at the Sunshine Coast Stadium on Tuesday where a few hundred fans flocked to cheer them through the gruelling Bronco fitness test.

All Blacks hookers Dane Coles and Codie Taylor. Photo / Photosport
All Blacks hookers Dane Coles and Codie Taylor. Photo / Photosport

The All Blacks are dedicating the early stages of this week to reviewing their 31-29 loss to the Springboks. First they tackled their attack, with the defence and set piece to follow before switching focus to the USA. The team leaves for the States this Sunday on a 30-hour journey that includes four flights.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Retallick put his hand up for the malfunctioning lineout which lost seven throws across two tests against the Boks.

"It's been good to have this time to go out, train, and break things down so when we get to Europe we can nail it," Retallick said. "The Boks put us under a lot of pressure. When you break it down I've got to be better there and call some better options and not be so focused on them. I'll take a lot of responsibility there so that's something we're going to tidy up over the next couple of days."

Discover more

Sport|rugby

Former All Black Liam Squire announces retirement after injury issues

12 Oct 06:30 AM
All Blacks

21 players unavailable: All Blacks opponent hit with crisis ahead of test

12 Oct 02:00 AM
All Blacks

All Blacks to face new opponent at World Cup as history made

10 Oct 01:15 AM
All Blacks

Gregor Paul: Kiwis still love rugby - here's how the ABs can reconnect with NZ

10 Oct 05:00 PM

At this juncture, following the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks would usually return from a refreshing break at home with family. Lapping up the beaches and golf courses the Sunshine Coast has to offer is far from the worst place to be, particularly when New Zealand's largest city has been locked down for two months, but the recent break evoked pangs of homesickness among the All Blacks.

"There's been some tough days when you don't have a game at the end of the week that you're working towards or your normal routine," Retallick said. "Right now we're supposed to be back home catching up with the wives, girlfriends, kids so it takes a bit of a toll. In saying that when we left we knew what to expect. The boys have been getting around each other but this little lull makes you miss the family more than normal."

The USA come off a humbling 34-15 loss to Uruguay that booked the South America's 2023 World Cup spot in the All Blacks pool alongside hosts France, Italy and a yet-to-be-determined African side.

Given that result, the All Blacks should canter to a blowout victory. In their last meeting with the USA in Chicago in 2014, the All Blacks romped to a 74-6 win.

Retallick believes the influx of Coles, Sam Whitelock, Sam Cane, Shannon Frizell and rookie lock Josh Lord in Washington DC will help keep the squad on edge.

"Every week there is a mental aspect. We had a massive build up for the South African games, with the first one being 100 tests, and then trying to beat the world No 1 back-to-back. We're going to have a week where we're doing a lot of travel and there's new guys joining the squad and they'll be excited to be back in. We're not going to underestimate it, but there will be things we're focusing on to try build our game when we head north."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

Latest from All Blacks

All Blacks

All Blacks make widespread changes for final French test

Watch
Premium
OpinionGregor Paul

Gregor Paul: The risks in Razor's change-heavy All Blacks side

All Blacks

All Blacks team naming: 10 changes to side to face France


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from All Blacks

All Blacks make widespread changes for final French test
All Blacks

All Blacks make widespread changes for final French test

Liam Napier and Elliott Smith discuss All Blacks team for third French test.

Watch
17 Jul 06:14 AM
Premium
Premium
Gregor Paul: The risks in Razor's change-heavy All Blacks side
Gregor Paul
OpinionGregor Paul

Gregor Paul: The risks in Razor's change-heavy All Blacks side

17 Jul 01:33 AM
All Blacks team naming: 10 changes to side to face France
All Blacks

All Blacks team naming: 10 changes to side to face France

16 Jul 11:52 PM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP