“Major blow” – All Blacks to be without three key stars this summer

Veteran lock Brodie Retallick remains unavailable despite continuing to play at a high level in Japan.

The former World Rugby Player of the Year has reportedly shown reluctance toward committing to a lengthy South African tour, with his future involvement in the All Blacks setup still uncertain.

Retallick’s absence removes one of New Zealand’s most experienced forwards from the squad. His leadership, physicality and lineout presence have been central to the All Blacks for more than a decade.

Star first five Richie Mo’unga will also be unavailable this summer due to New Zealand Rugby’s overseas eligibility rules.

Mo’unga is currently playing in Japan and cannot represent the All Blacks until he returns to domestic rugby in New Zealand. Reports suggest he will need to play for Canterbury in the NPC before becoming eligible again later this year.

His absence leaves a major void in the playmaking department, with Mo’unga widely regarded as one of the world’s premier fly-halves.

Powerful loose forward Shannon Frizell is in the same situation as Mo’unga and remains unavailable while playing overseas.

Frizell was one of the standout performers during the 2023 Rugby World Cup and brought a unique blend of power, ball-carrying and defensive aggression to the All Blacks back row.

Without him, New Zealand lose an enforcer who consistently delivered in the biggest matches.

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