‘Real miserable bugger’: Legendary All Black's verdict on World Cup squad

Legendary loose forward Murray Mexted believes “you’d have to be a real miserable bugger” to criticise the All Blacks’ 33-man squad for the upcoming Rugby World Cup in France.

Following a perfect run in both The Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup, the All Blacks revealed their squad on Monday.

Two-time Rugby World Cup-winning captain Richie McCaw read out the names in Napier, starting with the most famous family in New Zealand rugby – of course, it’s the Barretts.

Beauden, Jordie and Scott made their way out onto the stage, and captain Sam Cane followed soon after.

There were some contentious selections, but for the most part, the All Blacks have stuck with most of the squad who served them well in the opening four Tests of the year.

Former New Zealand international Murray Mexted has praised the All Blacks selectors for picking a squad that rugby fans “can feel really good about.”

“The changes to the All Blacks selection panel, I think, is showing dividends. I think they’re smart and the announcement of this All Black team, it’s hard to fault,” Mexted said on The Platform.

“You’d have to be a real miserable bugger if you’ve found fault in that All Black squad that’s touring the World Cup. We can feel really good about that.”

The All Blacks selected three hookers in their squad – Dane Coles, Codie Taylor and Samisoni Taukei’aho – and six props to round out their options in the front row.

But moving into the second row and beyond, well, that’s where things get interesting.

Coach Ian Foster and the selectors have picked four locks, including injured veteran Brodie Retallick. The world-class forward sustained a knee injury in last weekend’s win over the Wallabies in Dunedin.

The controversy or debate doesn’t stop there, though.

Captain Sam Cane headlines a group of just five loose forwards. As Mexted discussed, some rugby fans in Aotearoa are concerned about this – but the former All Black insists that everything is as it should be.

“There’s been a bit of talk on The Breakdown and stuff like that, that maybe we don’t have enough loosies. Five loosies, they’ve got so many wingers,” Mexted added.

“You’ve got three world-class locks and they’ve named four locks to go, but two of those locks play flanker as well. I don’t think there’s a problem.

“If you were picking the team against France and Brodie Retallick, well let’s talk about the reality… he’s not going to be playing before the quarter-finals… you’d think that they’d want those three world-class players on the field, the whole three of them.

“I think the reason that they didn’t take another lock is because Lord has been carrying an injury. He hasn’t been considered and he hasn’t had a hell of a lot of rugby.

“That guy Vaa’i came on and played bloody well. I think everyone has to be smiling because he really was alive.”

The All Blacks take on arch-rivals South Africa at Twickenham later this month. It’s their final warmup Test before opening their World Cup campaign against hosts France in Paris.