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Please, All Blacks selectors, be brave and select Damian McKenzie in the squad for the Rugby World Cup.
Yes, I know he faces opposition from Richie Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett for the first-five role, but he must be in the squad for his ability to tear a game apart with sheer brilliance.
The dilemma is where to put him, which has been the constant throughout his career. He has spent just over 70 per cent of his matches at fullback with the balance at first-five eighth, but his form for the Chiefs this year suggests he is becoming more adept at his game management in the pivotal role. Could the selectors pull a shock, replace Barrett with McKenzie, who would accompany Mo’unga?
Barrett is heading for Japan next year and his form this year has not been up to his usual lofty standards, freeing up Stephen Perofeta to be selected in the utility role. If Barrett is selected then McKenzie must go in a utility role, starting or off the bench in the pool games against Namibia and Uruguay to see what sort of form he is in.
If his form is sublime then he must be in contention for the bigger games, which hopefully the All Blacks will be in!
Sir John Kirwan has told Breakdown that McKenzie brings an X-factor desperately needed in the national team. It will give McKenzie a taste of Rugby World Cup action in preparation for the next World Cup in 2027.
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Damian McKenzie (Photo by Dianne Manson/Getty Images)
Mo’unga is also heading for Japan so the All Blacks are going to need someone to drive the team. McKenzie is off contract at the end of 2023 so it might be a productive idea to get him signed up as soon as possible.
Maybe a plan will not work and the solution is to select him and then see how the cards play out, injuries and form influencing the outcome.
Damian Sinclair McKenzie was born 1995 in Invercargill and attended Christ’s College in Christchurch. He is of European and Maori descent with the Maori heritage from his mother Moana. As with many rugby players of a small build he had to be evasive and speed was a natural acquisition, combined with electric footwork, fast hands and game awareness.
In his early years he always played first five but moved to fullback for the New Zealand Under-20s in 2014. Two years later he made his Test debut against Argentina and his career became a mixture of off-the-bench appearances, limited game time and 39 matches for the All Blacks. He has also accumulated 887 points for the Chiefs and was the ninth player to play over 100 games after making his debut in 2015.
In 2023 McKenzie has been a standout for the Chiefs, helping them top the table with eight wins from eight. Interestingly, he does not feature in many of the statistics where you think he would: metres carried, defenders beaten and clean breaks. Is it a sign of a new maturity that he only tops the table with points scored?
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A feature of the statistics so far is that New Zealand teams have defended in the 100s for points scored against, whereas the Australians are in the 200s, indicating the Australians may need to hire better defensive coaches? Anyway, I digress.
McKenzie has impressed Ian Foster with his maturity in decision-making. “The thing we’re excited about is his game management. In terms of form, he’s really putting his name up for us to think hard about how we see him,” Foster told Stuff.
McKenzie only has his sights set on guiding the Chiefs this year with higher honours being the bonus reward.
He can add goal-kicking to his repertoire with an economical style from a short run-up that can produce prodigious distances, with his 57-metre kick against Australia in 2021 an example. Of course, everyone by now is familiar with his “smiling assassin” face when he lines up his kick which is designed to create a positive mindset.
In the past his flamboyant style of play was deemed too high risk by critics with points scored negated by errors. Are those critics still of the same mind after watching him in 2023?
Damian McKenzie has built an impressive career so far but is he on the brink of going to the next level? Could he well be one of the stars at the 2023 RWC? Only time will tell, but it will be a magnificent sight if he does so.
It is all in the hands of the All Blacks selectors.
