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All Blacks star Damian McKenzie completes successful return from long-term knee injury
By Online Editors
All Blacks playmaker Damian McKenzie has successfully returned from a serious knee injury during the Chiefs' first Super Rugby pre-season clash on Friday.
The Hamilton-based franchise fell 26-19 to the Blues in blistering conditions in Waihi, but the 20-minute cameo appearance of McKenzie from the bench is a significant positive new head coach Warren Gatland can take out of the encounter.
It's the first time the 24-year-old has taken to the field since rupturing his ACL against the Blues in Hamilton nine months ago, which also resulted in him missing last year's World Cup in Japan.
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"I was really excited to get out there, it was a beautiful day for it. It's been a long time coming but it was just nice to get a bit of early ball and early contact," McKenzie said post-match.
"I've done a lot of work since my injury, a lot of rehab, and it's come back pretty strong.
"Obviously my first real injury, so it was a mental challenge to come back, and it really puts some perspective on what it's like to be injured and watching from the sideline, which was tough. But, look, it made me more hungry to come back."
Gatland, who made his debut as Chiefs head coach after moving back to New Zealand from Wales late last year, was impressed by McKenzie's showing, but will remain cautious with how he handles reintroducing his star man back into full-time action.
"He looked confident," Gatland said. "We just wanted to give him 20 minutes to get out there.
"You can see what sort of impact he's going to have in a few weeks when he starts having some more game time and he starts getting aerobically fit. So we've just got to make sure that we're smart and look after him."
McKenzie played all 20 of his minutes at fullback, which is where the 23-test international expects to stay throughout the upcoming season despite his ability to play at first-five.
"I'm focused on 15 at the moment and trying to cement a spot there if I can focus on that and come into 10 when I need to that will be the ideal situation."
The Chiefs' pre-season rolls on next week when they play an internal squad match against each other, while the Blues will return to Auckland to host the Hurricanes at Takapuna Rugby Club's Onewa Domain on Friday.
The Chiefs and Blues will then kick-off the 2020 Super Rugby season when they meet at Eden Park on January 31.
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Latest Comments
I think it was a better rugby destination for him.
He was developed in Melbourne and had a relatively brief stint there. I think he was possibly dropped out of the squad for the return of someone like To'omua (also a Melbourne local) in 2019 ahead of the RWC. But then he wasn't picked up by another Australian team and went to play in Japan when he only really seemed to play a hat full of top level games (maybe injured for long periods??) before he went on to Scotland. But it was only in Scotland that he started to get a lot of consistent game time and selection.
The thing is, no one talked about him being a missed opportunity in Australia before he left - a little like Mac Hansen. But he has been able to forge a top level career since leaving. Both men only had a handful (5 or 6?) games at Super Rugby level before they made a decision to leave (or had it made for them I suppose). Other countries have gone on to develop them and that is great for them and it is probably good for the global game as it means the best players are rising to the top - if not in their birth country than in another. I think there are a lot of issues with poor player development in Australia but I don't know if these two blokes are very good examples of it.
Go to commentsOk I understand. Give them my number please Nick.
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