'Our greatest impact player': Evaluating Damian McKenzie's World Cup role
The All Blacks No 10 jersey has been wrestled back and forth throughout this World Cup cycle, but just as it looked settled that Richie Mounga was the man to lead the charge at the World Cup, Damian McKenzie stepped in.
Returning from a one-year contract with Japan's Tokyo Sungoliath, McKenzie instantly elevated his Chiefs team to the top side in Super Rugby Pacific, beating Mo'unga's Crusaders in the opening match of the season and going on to sustain just one blemish in the entire regular season.
McKenzie's game had evolved, his erratic play was diluted by a more structural-minded attacking skillset and coach Clayton McMillan handed his flyhalf the keys to running a slick, dangerous attack.
It was Mo'unga's Crusaders who again had the last laugh but McKenzie had earned himself a return to higher honours and a shot at the throne.
And so in the first test of the All Blacks' season, McKenzie was handed the keys to the All Blacks attack and after a shaky start, his quality came through.
Ian Foster handed those keys back to Richie Mo'unga a week later in Auckland and as expected, the No 10 jersey remains in the Super Rugby champion's hands.
But it was never a starting role that McKenzie was slated for, his energetic and unpredictable play promised fans a wild game-closer and that's where his absence has been most disappointing.
"I think we missed him at the last World Cup," Sir John Kirwin told The Breakdown. "I still think he's the greatest impact player we've got. He's transformed himself from a fullback to a first-five at international level. That is a talented young man.
"But he brings something different, at standoff he plays like a Rugby League standoff, runs across the field. That is gold in a World Cup."
Throwing a player out there who can change the attacking threat of your team like McKenzie sounds like a wonderfully chaotic way to punish teams late in the match and put close games to the sword. But, it's not the direction selectors have taken to date.
With Beaduen Barrett claiming the fullback role, the All Blacks bench is considered better served by midfield and outside-back options, with plenty of versatility in the preferred backline making those bench selections the best bet.
With that said, despite Beauden Barrett's ability to play first five, Kirwin's co-panellist Jeff Wilson believes McKenzie should be the next man up in the 10 jersey.
"It enables us to focus on Beaduen Barrett as a fullback, and it enables Beauden Barrett to focus on playing that position knowing that's going to be that's where he can have his biggest impact for this side.
"Now I would be surprised if at any stage anything happens to Richie Mo'unga and - I hope it doesn't - if they move Beauden Barrett forward. I think they've settled on how they want to play the game and Beauden's owning that backfield with the option of Will Jordan moving back there as well."
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Free to air is the key to fan expansion. I attended last weeks game at Suncorp (Reds v Blues) and the total cost is prohibitive to most people that wish to attend. Two tickets $130, parking (event day gouging) $75, road tolls $20, dinner beforehand $130, plus some petrol and a beer inside the stadium and a single game starts to cost $300-400. Who can afford that week in week out, I’d love to go more but could only afford this one game to see the Blues, I’d have loved to have seen more NZ teams here but I’d need to stop eating or sell a kidney.
Go to commentsBrumbies are looking good and if they keep their home form up a final is not beyond the realms of possibility. They showed against the Hurricanes exactly how clinical they can be as they absorbed pressure in that contest while also scoring points and applying their own pressure. Reds are well placed as well but need to find consistency. They are building a longer term project with a young side and plenty of quality players. Been surprising to see the strength of Aussie sides this year after the debacle of the world cup. Have NZ sides gotten weaker? Have Aussie sides gotten stronger? A bit of both I would say. Whatever the case its good to see some actual competition between NZ and Aus sides again and thats exactly what the fans wanted and is probably driving better viewership numbers. All of this can only be healthy for Aus and Super Rugby and I hope the Brumbies go all the way.
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