New Zealand to wait on fitness of Brodie Retallick
Brodie Retallick played 60 minutes during the game against Wales
©PA
New Zealand assistant coach Brad Mooar said they will assess the fitness of lock Brodie Rettalick ahead of the fixture against Italy to be played in Rome on 6th November.
Retallick sustained a shoulder injury during the recently concluded fixture against Wales at Principality Stadium where he was replaced in the 60th minute by Tupou Vaai.
Mooar said the 30-year-old said a call on Retallick's fitness will be taken over the week.
“Still a bit sore and stuff today [Sunday], as you’d expect 24 hours after [a test],” said Mooar.
“He will just continue to be monitored throughout tomorrow, early in the week and then throughout the week, so just a wait-and-see at the moment.”
With Scott Barrett and Patrick Tuipulotu already unavailable, if Retallick does not clear the fitness test ahead of next Saturday's game then the All Blacks will be left with skipper Sam Whitelock, Vaa’i and Josh Lord as the second-row options.
“I think the squad’s in a really, really healthy place. We’re basically, more or less, selecting from a fully-fit squad, so the competition is superb,” added Mooar.
“That creates the performance that we’re looking for at the end of the week because the guys just put each other under pressure for selection, but also then help each other prepare really well.
“Those guys that aren’t picked do a great job as the opposition for the week and put the [match day] 23 under pressure in training so we’re ready to go on the Saturday.
“It’s a really deep squad. People have fitted in superbly. The group’s doing a great job on this tour of switching on and switching off, both equally important."
