Sir John Kirwan has warned the Wallabies they'll face a more potent All Blacks team with Brodie Retallick at his intimidating best.
World class lock Retallick plays his first Test for nearly a year in Saturday's Bledisloe Cup opener in Sydney.
While lock partner Sam Whitelock will gather more attention in his 100th Test appearance, Kirwan believes it's the abrasive Retallick who holds the key to unlocking New Zealand's best rugby.
"I just think he's a legend of our game. He's the greatest all-round footballer in the world, I believe," Kirwan told Sky TV's Breakdown show.
"When he's in this rampaging mood, swatting people off, hitting rucks and really hurting people, I just think he's a real x-factor that we haven't seen with any consistency in the last 12 months."
Retallick's last Test was the 57-0 trouncing of South Africa in Albany in which he starred last September.
He missed the rest of the Rugby Championship, the loss to Australia in the dead rubber third Test and a November tour of Europe to grieve the death of his unborn son.
Injury sidelined Retallick from the June Test series against France, when his spot was admirably filled by Scott Barrett - a contender for player of the series.
However, there is little doubt the towering Chiefs hard man will be reunited with Whitelock for his 69th Test.
Kirwan believes the 27-year-old brings an edge which intimidates opponents and offers a follow-me figure to his teammates.
"If he played in the 60s and 70s, he'd be the guy to start the fight all the time," Kirwan said.
"He's just angry with everything that he does."
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