Damian McKenzie stakes All Blacks claim as Chiefs beat Highlanders
Flyhalf Damian McKenzie sent another reminder of his ability to the All Blacks selectors as he guided the Chiefs to a 28-7 win over the Highlanders Friday and to a 3-0 start in Super Rugby Pacific.
McKenzie had a hand in all four of his team's tries and produced several nice touches on attack and defence in a Chiefs team which didn't always make good use of ample possession.
The Dunedin-based Highlanders now are 0-3 for the season but this was their best performance after a 60-20 loss to the Auckland-based Blues and 52-15 loss to the Christchurch-based Crusaders.
The Highlanders spent much of the first half inside their half but defended extremely well and trailed by only 8-0 at halftime.
Lapses of discipline which gave up a series of penalties and led to a sin-binning played into the Chiefs' hands in the second half.
The Chiefs took advantage with three more tries including two to winger Shaun Stevenson, his fourth and fifth of the season.
The margin might have been larger but McKenzie was a bit wayward from the kicking tee, with only three goals from seven attempts.
"We came up against a Highlanders side that is pretty desperate," Chiefs captain Sam Cane said.
"We knew their first two weeks weren't a true reflection of where they are as a team.
"We expected a real battle and that's exactly what we go. The first 50 minutes were a real arm wrestle. They defended well and forced us into mistakes. We didn't quite get enough points on the board for the possession we had."
McKenzie made his mark early.
As the Chiefs attacked on the open-side in the sixth minute, McKenzie spotted a numerical advantage on a wide blindside, changed the direction of the attack and sent Etene Nanai-Seturo over for the first try.
The Chiefs couldn't score another try before halftime as the Highlanders continued to repel their attacks and exit well with the help of long kicks from former England flyhalf Freddie Burns, playing at fullback.
The next Chiefs try came in the 51st minute when McKenzie ran an elusive line and Rameka Poihipi handed off a brilliant ball to Stevenson who cut straight through a gap to score.
Five minutes later Alex Nankivell broke down the left flank and McKenzie was there to take his inside pass. When he was stopped Cane and Brad Weber carried the move on before Samipeni Finau scored.
Stevenson's second came in the 75th minute, this time from McKenzie's final pass. In between the Highlanders scored through Mosese Dawai.
McKenzie might again be looked at by the All Blacks selectors for a playmaker role with flyhalves Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo'unga both off to play in Japan after this year's World Cup.
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No just because the personal is much better than last year. I've shown no antagonism of Crusader players, you must be confusing me with someone else.
I have critized Razor for picking players he knows occasionally?
I said I'm not surprised because of his style, he's more a grinder player like Cane, not going to show up on peoples radar until you see how bad the other choices are. This year players like Clarke have been on fire and just show a bit more.
Are you one of those posters continually taking it easy on Razor because he doesn't have his Crusaders stars available? Do you think the rugby world is going to up to him suddenly once Mo'unga returns? lol
Go to commentsJohn you have been beating this drum for a couple of years, if you get proven right get back to us.
The last recent and decent Aussie coach was Ewen McKenzie, he was undermined and forced out by a couple of slimy Aussie players who were given a free pass when they should have been disciplined.
So our history since McQueen is very checkered and it seems to make little difference whether we have an Aussie coach or a Kiwi coach. The players have been entitled for a long time and we had to hit bottom to get them back into reality and to stop thinking it is all about them.
Cheika was an OK coach but his 'go our and destroy the opposition' tactic worked for a while and then didn't.
Please give me a list of great Aussie coaches that I have missed.
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