Rugby: Return of Brodie Retallick and Beauden Barrett increases expectation on All Blacks

There is something reassuring, a comfort blanket of sorts amid the southern Dunedin chill, about Brodie and Beauden returning to the All Blacks.

For all the rookies the All Blacks are blooding this year in the form of the two Ethans, de Groot and Blackadder, Quinn Tupaea, George Bower and Finlay Christie, welcoming back Beauden Barrett to New Zealand rugby and Brodie Retallick to the All Blacks feels significant.

Barrett and Retallick in the same starting team sure increases the sense of an ominous challenge for Fiji on Saturday.

While Barrett never left the All Blacks as such his return from a six-month sabbatical brings a different dynamic in that he will start his second test at No 10 in the past two years.

Then there's Retallick, the 2014 world player of the year and someone capable of striking fear into any opposition.

After his near two-year absence from the black jersey Retallick is relishing his starting return alongside Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu.

"I'm a little bit nervous to be fair - it's been a wee while since the 2019 World Cup," the 30-year-old, 81-test veteran said.

Brodie Retallick and Beauden Barrett are back starting for the All Blacks. Photo / Getty

Retallick's nerves are in part due to the fact he last played for the Kobelco Steelers in the Japanese Top League in May, and he could therefore be somewhat short of a gallop. Then again, Retallick possesses an engine that doesn't know what third gear is – and his time away from the All Blacks has only fuelled his desire.

"The first scrum session was a real wake-up call, obviously a fair bit of power with the big boys pushing away up front," Retallick said. "I did a fair bit of work when I was at home in the Hawke's Bay before we came together and having last week in the camp to get the conditioning right - so I'm in a good spot.

"When I left New Zealand to go to Japan the plan was always to come back and hopefully get my chance to play test rugby and prove my case, so I want to be here [and] it makes it pretty easy."

Brodie Retallick. Photo / Photosport

Retallick's absence was beneficial for the All Blacks in that it allowed them to build depth in an area that desperately needed it. The emergence of Tupou Vaa'i from the Chiefs, to join the established Sam Whitelock, Tuipulotu and Scott Barrett, was a major plus during the struggles of last year.

Yet having the ability to now ease Retallick back is a luxury any test side would welcome with glee.

"We've held him back a little bit," All Blacks coach Ian Foster said. "He's come through quarantine after a full season and he's had two or three weeks training by himself back at home so we'll see what we get on Saturday night but we've got a lot of faith in him."

Unleashing a refreshed Barrett and Retallick on a Fijian side that's played one test since the 2019 World Cup and has their two halfbacks and one first five-eighth stuck in Australia reflects the leverage the All Blacks hold this week.

"Attitude wise they're both 10 out of 10," Foster said. "Physically I'm really excited about where they're at. Beauden is looking fast; calm and excited. We saw that last week.

"Brodie is exactly the same. He's prancing around with a bounce in his step. He's still got a little bit of conditioning to do but it's more the speed of the skillset stuff that he's making little adjustments to, but he's getting there very quickly.

"Saturday is a really good opportunity to see where he's at. We know he's going to be 100 per cent when it comes to the commitment side of the game. I imagine he'll empty his tank pretty quickly but we're excited about getting a measure on his skills under pressure in terms of his tackle, catch, pass and put a bit of a marker in the space there."

All Blacks team:

Jordie Barrett, Sevu Reece, Rieko Ioane, David Havili, George Bridge, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith (c), Hoskins Sotutu, Ethan Blackaddder, Shannon Frizell, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu, Nepo Laulala, Codie Taylor, George Bower.

Reserves: Dane Coles, Ethan de Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Samuel Whitelock, Luke Jacobson, Finlay Christie, Damian McKenzie, Will Jordan.