Eddie Jones: New Zealand should bring back Retallick

Japan head coach Eddie Jones believes that the All Blacks should try to lure Kobe Steelers captain Brodie Retallick back to Test rugby this summer.

Retallick, 34, who won the last of his 109 caps for his country in the 2023 World Cup final, is nearing the end of his three-year contract in Japan.

The 2014 World Player of The Year has been in inspired form for Dave Rennie’s title candidates Kobe and is the top scorer in division one with nine tries in eight games.

The former Chiefs lock, who won Super Rugby titles in 2012 and 2013, is third in the individual rankings for the most carries this season (105) behind only 31-year-old Toyota captain Kazuki Himeno (111) and 30-year-old Urayasu number eight Jasper Wiese (117).

Retallick in action against Toyota © JRLO

Kobe boasts a strong Kiwi influence with Ardie Savea and Anton Lienert-Brown among their talent-laden squad which also includes former New Zealand Māori captian Ash Dixon, Auckland-born Japan international Tiennan Costley, Huntly native Bryn Gatland, ex-Blues lock Gerard Cowley-Tuioti and fast-rising Hastings-born centre Tali Ioasa.

“The bloke I’d get back is (Brodie) Retallick, you should see him play up there, 34 and he’s the best player here by an absolute mile,” Jones said on Martin Devlin’s DSPN podcast.

“Every game he’s absolutely sensational and you think what’s happening in sport, at 34 you used to be an old man in sport. Now players are playing to 36, 37, 38 in rugby and to the age of 40 in basketball.”

The 2015 World Cup winner, who scored four tries against TJ Perenara’s Black Rams in January, produced another rousing display in Kobe’s 34-33 win against Todd Blackadder and Richie Mo’unga’s champions Toshiba Brave Lupus on Sunday.

Retallick led his team brilliantly before leaving the field in the 47th minute after suffering a knock and handed the captaincy to Savea.

“If I got a tap on the shoulder I’d go to him and say ‘Retallick, come on, let’s go again’.

“Dave Rennie was doing a good job with Australia, he has a great record with the Chiefs and Glasgow and his Kobe team is playing unbelievably,” added Jones as New Zealand closes in on their next head coach appointment.

Once-beaten Kobe, who overpowered Saitama Wild Knights in the third-place play-off last season, are third in the table with seven wins from eight games and host unbeaten leaders Saitama on Saturday.