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Chiefs coach explains decision to rest Damian McKenzie for Crusaders clash
All Blacks playmaker Damian McKenzie will not line up for the Chiefs on Friday night when they take on a desperate Crusaders outfit in Christchurch, as confirmed by coach Clayton McMillan.
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McKenzie, who is widely considered the front-runner to wear the All Blacks’ No. 10 jersey under Scott Robertson, picked up a knock during the Chiefs’ win over the Crusaders in round one.
While the star fly-half had seemingly recovered from that rib injury to star during the Chiefs’ 4-1 start to the season, another injury and rest protocols will see McKenzie miss a round six derby.
With rest protocols requiring All Blacks to miss at least two matches this season, coach McMillan has revealed that McKenzie will miss the Good Friday clash with the Crusaders.
The Crusaders may be anchored to the bottom of the Super Rugby Pacific ladder with five losses from as many starts, but McMillan insisted this decision had nothing to do with their form.
“We had always planned on Damian getting through the first four of five games before he needed a rest, as per the protocols,” McMillan told Stuff.
“It’s certainly got nothing to do with the Crusaders and how they are tracking at the moment, that didn’t even factor into our thinking, it just either had to be last week or this week.
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“He’s had a niggly knee… it’s nothing serious, it’s just something that’s been a bit of a niggle at the start of last week, that’s why we contemplated him resting (against the Highlanders) but he came good.
“But it’s just a timely reminder, instead of pushing it another week to a point where something that’s minor could turn into something a little bit more serious.
Head-to-Head
Last 5 Meetings
Wins
2
Draws
0
Wins
3
Average Points scored
25
29
First try wins
40%
Home team wins
60%
“If Damian had been 100% fit, it might have been an easier decision to extend him another week, but he’s not, so we won’t risk him.”
The Chiefs will look to keep within touching distance of the high-flying Hurricanes who remain the only undefeated side in the competition with a flawless run of five victories.
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With the Chiefs just four competition points back, a bonus point win down in Christchurch and a disastrous defeat for the Hurricanes could see the Hamilton-based franchise leap up to first.
Comments on RugbyPass
Let’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
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