All Blacks star ruled out of World Cup
The All Blacks have been dealt a major blow in their bid for a fourth World Cup title as star first-five/fullback Damian McKenzie has been ruled out of the tournament with a ruptured ACL injury.
All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen confirmed the news on Monday as players from a national 41-man squad, which McKenzie was initially included in, congregated in Wellington for a ‘foundation day’ training camp.
A ruptured ACL usually takes between six to nine months to recover from, and with the World Cup set to kick off in five months’ time, a miracle recovery would be required of McKenzie if he was to attend the global showpiece event in Japan.
“He’s done an ACL and looks to be out for eight to nine months which is a real shame for him,” Hansen said.
“His World Cup opportunity’s gone but he’s still young enough to make probably the next two. It’s just important he gets his knee right and takes the time to be able to come back and achieve the dreams that he wants to achieve.
“It’s sad for him obviously. It creates another opportunity for someone else. We’ve got to expect injuries and there will be more than just him I’d say.”
McKenzie sustained the injury early in the second half of his side’s 33-29 win over the Blues at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton on Saturday.
The 23-year-old limped off the field shortly after attempting to tackle Blues first-five Otere Black, struggling to bend his left knee and strongly favouring his opposite leg.
The injury comes as a significant blow to Hansen and his fellow selectors Ian Foster and Grant Fox, who have used McKenzie as an integral member of their squad since his test debut in 2016.
Alternating between first-five and fullback, McKenzie was listed as one of three first-fives in the ‘foundation day’ squad alongside Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo’unga, although he has been predominantly used at fullback in test matches.
The All Blacks selectors will now have the rest of the Super Rugby season, a condensed Rugby Championship campaign and a one-off test against Tonga to find and develop a new third-choice first-five.
With Barrett, Mo’unga and McKenzie the leading first-fives in the country, there are limited options at Hansen, Foster and Fox’s disposal.
Josh Ioane has impressed in his second year with the Highlanders, although he has been forced to alternate starting roles with the more seasoned Marty Banks throughout the season.
The same can be said of Black, who has shared playmaking roles with youngster Harry Plummer frequently in 2019, but has been a core figure in the Blues’ resurgence this year.
Crusaders pivot Brett Cameron earned a surprise test debut from off the bench against Japan last year, making him the only other first-five in the country with test match experience.
However, the 22-year-old has struggled for game time in Super Rugby behind Mo’unga, and crumbled in his solitary start against the Waratahs in Sydney as the Crusaders fell to what has been their only loss so far this season.
While not setting the competition alight, Damian’s older brother Marty has been in career-best form with the Chiefs over the past few weeks as he and his brother worked in tandem via a 10-15 playmaking axis.
He, like Damian, can also play at fullback, as can Ioane, which adds to their cases for a call-up to the national side.
However, no word has been released regarding a call-up to the national side as the ‘foundation day’ training camp gets underway in the nation’s capital.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
The shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to comments