Super Rugby
Chiefs' Brodie Retallick ready to get his year underway
AAP
February 3, 2016
Brodie Retallick says he's ready to get his year underway © Getty Images
Enlarge

All Black lock Brodie Retallick is keen to hit the ground running for the Chiefs in next Friday's pre-season hit out against the Waratahs in Rotorua.

The 24-year-old, who was a standout performer for the All Blacks in last year's World Cup-winning side, sat out Wednesday's training session with a toe injury but remains confident he will be ready to play.

"Nothing too serious - an old injury flared up at our camp last week and I was a bit sore yesterday so I didn't play in today's internal game but hopefully it will come right by next week," Retallick said.

The Chiefs have already lost prop Nepo Laulala for the season and lock Dominic Bird for the first 10 rounds of the Super Rugby competition but Retallick isn't making any excuses after the squad's last two injury-plagued seasons.

"That's the nature of the game and it's going to happen. Touch wood that we got through today alright and hopefully we get through the next few weeks leading into round one with a full squad," he said.

The loss of experienced locks Michael Fitzgerald and Matt Symons, who are now playing rugby overseas, will also place more pressure on the new players, but Retallick is backing them to rise to the challenge.

"Losing them was huge. They're obviously two great players but the new guys that are coming out of ITM Cup have stepped up and as far as I can see they're making great strides," he said.

The 2014 World Rugby player of the year also faces the additional responsibility of being a leader in the squad after racking up 59 caps for the Chiefs and is determined to lead by example.

"The best way you can do that is by playing well on the field so that's all I'm concentrating on at the moment."

© AAP

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.