The rise of Retallica

As befits a keen mechanic who was brought up to know his way around souping up classic vehicles, New Zealand’s Brodie Retallick is the All Black who provides the main engine, the horsepower, and the oil for this 2019 juggernaut

When he was helped off the pitch, huge body hunched over, right arm cradling his left and mouth agape from the sheer agony of a dislocated shoulder, New Zealand held its collective breath at the sight of their felled monster.

A World Cup without Brodie Retallick? The All Blacks without their destructive lynchpin? Well, why wouldn’t a nation fret?