Retallick to rumble with Lavanini

 

The Chiefs lock has made a massive name for himself, both for his franchise and for the All Blacks, as an uncompromising, hard-nosed forward that relishes the rough stuff.

 

In the Argentinean camp, the 21-year-old colossus Lavanini sits at 2.04m and 129kg and is their answer to the bruising Retallick who is of similar proportions at 2.04m and 121kg.

 

This battle of the Titans set for Saturday has got the All Blacks' man excited to test himself against the Pumas pack – that proved themselves against the famed Springbok forwards.

 

"He was definitely a physical player," Retallick recalled after seeing Lavanini last year during a stint with the Chiefs Super Rugby academy in Hamilton.

 

"I remember seeing a video clip where he knocked someone out just cleaning them out [of a ruck].

 

"He was all about going forward and physicality and trying to dominate the opposition to let the backs do the work.

 

"That's the mentality of their whole forward pack, lay the platform and let the backs finish it off."

 

The All Blacks and Retallick have clearly had their eyes on the South Africa and Argentinean games with the big lock impressed by the strength of the Pumas forwards.

 

"It's exciting. It's another big challenge, another chance to prove ourselves as players and as a pack against a team like that," he told Stuff NZ.

 

"I like the physical side. You can't do it every day of the week and expect to do it on Saturday, so you have to get the body right so its good to go on the weekend again.  

 

"It's something I enjoy and as part of the tight five you want to set that physical dominance up front.

 

"When you are doing that it's a good feeling."

 

The All Blacks take on Argentina in Napier on Saturday with the Pumas desperate for a win after coming close against the Springboks, twice, while the New Zealanders will hope to continue from where they left off after hammering Australia 51-20.