Murray Mexted claims ‘we underestimated Whitelock and Retallick for years’ as Dave Rennie takes ‘risk’ with All Blacks team to face Springboks

Murray Mexted has suggested the constant rotation at lock has shown how fans and pundits didn’t truly appreciate how good New Zealand had it with Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock.

After years at the top level, Retallick and Whitelock decided to end their Test careers following the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

It is a hole Scott Robertson struggled to fill and Dave Rennie is fighting the same battle, despite some talented players coming through.

Fabian Holland was named World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year in 2025 and impressed in the first two Tests against the Springboks, while Sam Darry, Tupou