Back where he belongs: Why Damian McKenzie needs to stay at fullback
It should be no surprise to anyone that the two games that the Chiefs haven’t lost this year are games of which their playmaking maestro Damian McKenzie has been playing at fullback.
It’s a position that the 23-year-old has made a big impression in since bursting onto the Super Rugby scene with the Chiefs in 2015, and despite the club’s best efforts to play him as a first-five to fill the void left by veteran pivot Aaron Cruden in 2017, it’s fullback where he’s proving to be most valuable.
The Chiefs’ horrendous start to the season followed by two much-improved performances against the Hurricanes and Bulls illustrates the impact McKenzie can make when switched from 10 to 15.
He missed their tight season-opening defeat at the hands of the Highlanders in Hamilton through injury, but when he returned to the starting side for their clash against the Brumbies in Canberra, he wasn’t able to turn his side’s fortunes around as they stumbled to a record 54-17 defeat.
What followed was a first-ever loss to the Sunwolves on Kiwi soil a week later, before being pumped 57-28 by the Crusaders in Christchurch.
McKenzie played in all three of those humiliating fixtures, starting every time at first-five.
In recent seasons, he has built a reputation for himself as someone who can set a match alight from nothing with a sudden burst through the opposition’s defensive line using his sharp footwork and lightning speed.
For a professional rugby player as small as him – standing at 1.77m and 78kg – he needs those attributes in order to survive on the field, and when playing in the right position, he utilises those attributes to thrive and standout to not only make him one of the most exciting players to watch in Super Rugby, but also one of the most important players at the Chiefs.
Unfortunately for the Chiefs, McKenzie was not being played in the right position in those three games against the Brumbies, Sunwolves and Crusaders.
Sure, he has the playmaking ability to sufficiently direct his side throughout Super Rugby as a first-five, but if the Chiefs really wanted to capitalise on the talents that McKenzie can offer them, then they needed to play him at fullback where he could have made the most of broken defensive lines on the counter-attack and the open pasture in front of him further out in the backline.
Playing much further in-field at first-five significantly restricted McKenzie’s capacity to run with as much freedom and impulsiveness compared to when he’s playing fullback, such is the nature of the first-five position where he is confronted with much more traffic in a lot tighter spaces.
Without that freedom while in possession of the ball, McKenzie’s strengths were not being played to, and the Chiefs subsequently suffered for it in the opening month of Super Rugby.
However, with the Chiefs reaching crisis point in round five with no wins on the board as they prepared to host the star-studded Hurricanes, head coach Colin Cooper made the critical change which saw McKenzie move to fullback.
He won’t have regretted that shift, as the Chiefs are now two games undefeated following a 23-23 draw with the Hurricanes and 56-20 thumping of the Bulls in Pretoria last weekend.
There is no doubt that McKenzie’s positional switch played a big role in the Chiefs’ turnaround, as is reflected in his match statistics.
In his first three appearances at first-five, McKenzie scored no tries and assisted just one, while his back-to-back outings at fullback have seen him score his maiden five-pointer of 2019, while assisting another three.
His average running metres have catapulted from 30.3m to 72m since moving into the backfield, while he has claimed his first four clean breaks of the year and has, on average, beaten more defenders per match than he did at first-five.
McKenzie’s statistical boost obviously has a direct correlation to the Chiefs’ vastly-improved results, and while Cooper remained coy about where he intends to play the 23-cap test star in future following the Bulls clash, he should know where he belongs.
Regardless of who is running the cutter at first-five, whether it be Jack Debreczeni, Marty McKenzie, Stephen Donald or even Orbyn Leger, as long as Damian McKenzie remains at fullback, the Chiefs can expect to overturn their horrific start to the year.
Watch: Raelene Castle on Sunwolves axing:
Comments on RugbyPass
What a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically. I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
25 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
4 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
4 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to comments