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Damian McKenzie ruled out of opening Super Rugby fixture
By Tom Vinicombe
Friday night was supposed to mark Damian McKenzie's much-awaited return to the rugby field after spending the better part of the last year on the sidelines. A training ground injury has stymied his return, however.
McKenzie, who ruptured his ACL against the Blues in April of last year and subsequently missed the World Cup, was initially named to start at fullback in Friday's opening Super Rugby fixture at Eden Park.
The diminutive playmaker will have to wait at least one more week to make his return, however, with a tight abductor forcing him out of the clash.
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Shaun Stevenson, with 44 caps to his name, will take over in McKenzie's absence.
McKenzie was one of four All Blacks the Chiefs had named to start in the match, with Sam Cane captaining the side from the back of the scrum, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi at halfback and Nepo Laulala packing down at tighthead prop.
Still, Atu Moli, Angus Ta'avao, Brad Weber, Aaron Cruden and Anton Lienert-Brown will all enter the fray at some point after being named on the bench.
McKenzie's last match against the Blues marked the Chiefs' 15th regular-season victory in a row over their northern neighbours. The Blues ended that torrid record later in the year but the Chiefs will still enter Friday's game as favourites - even without McKenzie on board.
Chiefs: Shaun Stevenson, Sean Wainui, Quinn Tupaea, Alex Nankivell, Solomon Alaimalo, Kaleb Trask, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Sam Cane (c), Mitchell Karpik, Lachlan Boshier, Mitchell Brown, Tyler Ardron, Nepo Laulala, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Aidan Ross. Reserves: Bradley Slater, Atu Moli, Angus Ta’avao, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Pita Gus Sowakula, Brad Weber, Aaron Cruden, Anton Lienert-Brown.
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There is nothing particularly significant about Ireland in this regard compared to other Tier 1 nations. To look at 'strategy' for illegal play its best to see what teams push boundaries with new laws. SA have milked two tries at ruck block downs. The strategy is to charge the first few before the ball is out at about 4 seconds but pull out and put up hands in reigned apology. The referees usually allow the scum half to clear without awarding a penalty in this scenario. The problem with that being that the scrumhalf is now taking over 5 seconds through no fault of his own. Having achieved a few slow balls > 5s , the SA forward can now pick a scrum to charge dead on 5s. Now if the scrum half waits, he will concede a penalty, as we saw against Scotland. With the new rule in place, any early charge should result in an immediate penalty.
SA also got an offside block against England which was pivotal again after a couple of 'apologetic' offside aborted charges forcing England to clear slowly.
Go to commentsYep, you're not the sharpest tool in the shed are you?
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