Damian McKenzie gives first update after devastating knee injury
All Blacks and Chiefs fullback Damian McKenzie has given an update on social media for the first time since an ACL injury that ruled him out of the World Cup.
The 24-year-old sustained the injury against the Blues last month, but had remained quiet since then. However, he took to Instagram today to say that he has had surgery on his knee, and is now facing a different challenge to the one he was hoping for this year.
Nonetheless, he remains upbeat, saying that he is “[l]ooking forward to accomplishing little goals day by day and coming back even better next year.”
This is what he said:
This injury has had a major impact on both the Chiefs’ and the All Blacks’ seasons, as the injury came only days after being named in Steve Hansen’s provisional squad. There is no doubt that McKenzie would have been on the plane to Japan in September, and would have very likely been a starter for the national team.
McKenzie’s injury has caused problems for Hansen in terms of who he is replaced by, as he operated as a third choice fly-half whilst primarily being a fullback. His versatility is what marks the diminutive back out as a crucial member of the All Blacks team, and so hard to replace.
However, perhaps the Chiefs are the ones that have suffered the most in McKenzie’s absence, as they have been severely pushed for fly-halves this season. Although 21-cap All Black started the first few games of the season at 10, to not much avail, he would have helped during this current crisis, which has seen the team call upon veteran Stephen Donald.
There is no good time to get an injury like this, but this is perhaps the worst for McKenzie, with a World Cup on the horizon and after showing some good form with the Chiefs. However, he seems determined to come back better in 2020.
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Latest Comments
Thanks for the analysis Nick, thought provoking as usual. Couple of queries though, in the pic where you've circled Williams bind , I'm pretty sure it shows Stuart's knee on the ground, surely that's a NZ penalty? Also having had the chance to watch it again the All Black scrum seeems to improve after halftime, but before either England or the All Blacks replace their props. Not sure if that was the result of Tuipolutu coming on or some halftime tips. Either way this is only Williams second international season, so he'll be better for the experience.
Go to commentsif the clock could be turned back, Jones should still have been given the top job, to be assisted by Farrell, Borthwick, Catt, & Rowntree, and after 2019 he should have been replaced by Farrell.
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