Murray Mexted's core argument is straightforward — Super Rugby without South African franchises is a tier below what it used to be, and Rennie risks being seduced by form that won't hold up against the Springboks' physicality. Mexted is particularly pointed about the back row, warning that undersized loosies who get away with things at Super Rugby level will be ruthlessly exposed at Test level against South Africa. His concern about the Hurricanes' Kirifi and Lakai — both more natural sevens — is framed specifically around the Springbok threat: no half-measures, no ordinary days tolerated.
Mexted pushes two uncapped names — Devan Flanders and Boshier — as genuine Test candidates precisely because their size (both around 1.93–1.95m) and aerial ability give them the physical baseline to compete in that Springbok collision zone. For Bok fans, this is an interesting lens: a prominent All Blacks voice essentially using the Springboks as the benchmark standard that should drive All Blacks selection philosophy under Rennie.