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‘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.
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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.
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“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.
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“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.
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
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