Former All Blacks back-row Murray Mexted believes that their loose forward stocks are a “bloody mess” after a frustrating 2025.
New Zealand won 10 or their 13 matches this year, but they ultimately faltered by failing to win the Rugby Championship title and claim a Grand Slam.
There are still a few questions over team selection which have yet to be answered, and that includes the loose trio, according to Mexted.
Shifting Ardie Savea
Scott Robertson decided to move Ardie Savea from number eight to openside flanker at the start of the year but the All Blacks head coach has tinkered with the other positions.
“Loose forwards is a bloody mess. At one stage, we had such strength in the loose forwards that if you picked a world XV, two of our three players would make it. If you picked a world XV now, that is not going to happen,” the 72-year-old told DSPN with Martin Devlin.
“There are so many other players around the world in the loose forwards that are better than we are at the moment.
“I still think they’re fooling around with the positions, I don’t think they’ve necessarily found the solutions yet.”
Various players have been tried alongside Savea in the back-row, including Tupou Vaa’i, Wallace Sititi, Simon Parker, Peter Lakai and Christian Lio-Willie.
Lakai was handed the reins at number eight towards the end of the Test campaign, while Sititi has featured at both the base of the scrum and blindside flanker.
‘The jury’s out’ on Sititi and Lakai
“Lakai is in the running now and I don’t think he was before. Sititi is really good with the ball in hand, but I’m not so sure when the opposition have got the ball. The jury’s out on those two players,” Mexted said.
“Lakai’s experienced as an eight and a seven, and a little bit at six. Where’s his ultimate position? I think his ultimate position is probably going to end up openside flanker, so therefore I worry.
“Have we seen a new number eight? I think we need to be looking at guys that are coming through now or we’ve got to change locks.”
Vaa’i and Parker have had stints at blindside flanker, giving them a bit more height and effectiveness at close quarters, and Mexted prefers to have a bigger number six.
“Some locks who are obviously capable in the open and have the skills like [Naitoa] Ah Kuoi from the Chiefs, he’s a classic example to me,” he added.
“He’s not big enough to be an international lock… but he’s a good footballer. He should be playing at blindside flanker [in Super Rugby].”