There was a time when the deep-pocketed rugby clubs of Japan could have been seen as an enemy of the New Zealand game. Right about now an ally might be a more apt description.
Exhibit A: All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick who has hit the back end of The Rugby Championship performing as well as he ever has in the black jersey. It’s no coincidence, either, that the 30-year-old has found such a rich vein of form at a stage of his career when the performance levels can start to wane.
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Retallick spent the 2020 (such that it was) and 2021 seasons playing in Japan’s Top League competition for the Kobelco Steelers, and was clearly invigorated by the experience.
The stint ticked a number of boxes for the world-class lock forward – a nice little earner to top up his All Blacks salary; a welcome change of scenery after nearly a decade plying his trade in New Zealand; and a much-needed easing of the intensity, both in terms of matches and travel, and in physicality of rugby.
What is it they say? A change is as good as a holiday.
Retallick was certainly brokering no argument on that front when he reflected on his spell in Japan ahead of the All Blacks’ clash against the Springboks on the Gold Coast.
“The break in Japan was massive for me for a number of different reasons,” said the in-form 204cm bruiser.
“I’ve come back to New Zealand with a renewed love for the game and having the break – slightly longer than planned – has been awesome for the body. My fitness is in a good spot.
“It’s something I did for this reason – to come back and hopefully put my body in a spot like this. I’m more than thankful I got the opportunity.”
Japan has been a popular destination for mid-level southern hemisphere professionals and select Test stars past their prime for a while now.
But a trend has developed in recent years. Established internationals are heading there now in the prime of their careers, taking time out from the grind of Super and Test rugby, and finding there are reviving qualities in a competition that’s more middle-distance than marathon in its makeup.
Retallick’s fellow All Black lock Sam Whitelock had a season there in 2020 (cut short by the pandemic), while Test No.10 Beauden Barrett and scrumhalf TJ Perenara both also played the 2021 campaign in Japan.
Next year Patrick Tuipulotu and Damian McKenzie will also head across for short-term stints. All either have or will return to national team duty afterwards.
And the All Blacks aren’t alone in benefiting from players “refreshing” in Japan, where the company-based professional competition is considered not only the world’s fastest rising league, but, pound for pound, probably the most highly paid.
Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper played with former All Blacks captain Kieran Read at Toyota Verblitz, while Samu Kerevi and Sean McMahon have both returned from Suntory Sungoliath. All three have performed with distinction in the Rugby Championship.
The Boks, too, have called on the likes of Willie le Roux (Verblitz), Kwagga Smith (Yamaha), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) and Elton Jantjies and Makazole Mapimpi (both NTT) who have joined a growing South African contingent plying their club trade in Japan.
Retallick believes the Top League presents as an ideal mid to late-career stopover for Test players in need of a change of pace.
“There are benefits,” he says. “I was 10 years into playing in New Zealand and going over there and doing something new for a while, it worked great for me. It might not be for everybody, but for me there was definitely a positive side to it.”
All Blacks loose forward Luke Jacobson, a team-mate of Retallick’s at the Chiefs, said he had noticed the spring in the big man’s step on his return.
“He’s a special sort of player, and just somebody who keeps on going, and is into everything. If you watch him going around the field, he’s got a serious amount of ticker.
“He never lets his foot off the pedal at any time, and is supporting breaks, and getting right into defence. He’s a wicked player to play with, and to feed off as well. It’s quite inspiring.”
Openside flanker Dalton Papalii went even further, describing Retallick as “a straight dog”.
Asked to explain that description, he added: “A guy who is just relentless in training and especially in the game. Every game you go into with him, you know you’ve got to give 110 percent.
“He’s been playing some unreal footy, and always has. He’s just a straight out dog - someone who is ruthless in their preparation and the way they play.”
All Blacks coach Ian Foster reckons it took Retallick probably the July series against Tonga and Fiji to work his way back into the Test match rhythm, but by the three straight Bledisloes he was back to his best, and even donning the captaincy armband for the first clash against Argentina.
“He’s a very quick learner,” said Foster. “His body is now at the point where he’s much closer to what he used to be strength wise and size wise, yet we haven’t seen any loss in his aerobic capacity. His aerobic work [against the Wallabies in Perth] was phenomenal – some of the highest numbers we’ve seen.
“He’s back, he’s confident, he’s got a smile on his face and that’s the biggest thing with Brodie: when he’s really settled, loves the environment and comfortable, he can just go out and express himself.”
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Foster can also see the benefit of Retallick’s change of scenery.
“I was here in 2012 when we first selected Brodie as a young player, and I appreciate what he’s done in this jersey for a long time,” Foster added
“But we’ve also seen the frustration, disappointment and difficulties he had through the 2017-19 period where had a lot of injuries and never really seemed able to come back to the levels he knew on a consistent basis.
“I was really supportive of him having a break, and we’re seeing the benefit of that now. He’s come back fresh, his body is strong and his mind has always been strong.
“But when you get the body and mind strong, that’s a great combination. He’s quite a force and it’s great to have him back.”
Not only back. But back to his very best.
