Chiefs confirm positional switch as Damian McKenzie replaced by brother
Chiefs head coach Colin Cooper has followed through with his suggestion that a positional switch could be in store for Damian McKenzie as the Hamilton-based franchise look to overturn their horror start to the season.
McKenzie, who has regularly featured at first-five for the Chiefs since the departure of long-time playmaker Aaron Cruden in 2017, has been named to start at fullback for this week’s clash against the Hurricanes at Waikato Stadium, replacing the injured Solomon Alaimalo.
Taking his place in the No. 10 jersey is older brother Marty, who is in line for his first Super Rugby appearance of the year.
It will almost be a year to the day since Damian last started at fullback for the Chiefs, playing a key role in their 41-28 victory over the Bulls in Hamilton last year.
It’s the position of which he first made a name for himself in at this level, earning a reputation as an electric, agile threat from the back in his first three seasons with the franchise between 2015 and 2017.
Despite being deployed predominantly at first-five in Super Rugby last year, All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen continued to use the 23-year-old at fulback in test matches.
As for Marty, this weekend’s clash presents a chance for him to start in his first Super Rugby match since last year’s edition of this fixture, a 28-24 win over the Hurricanes at Waikato Stadium in the final round of the regular season.
The switch comes as a result of the Chiefs losing their opening four matches of the 2019 campaign, including hefty defeats to the Brumbies and Crusaders, as well as a first-ever loss to the Sunwolves.
It’s their worst start to a Super Rugby campaign since 2007, and Cooper is confident of turning his side’s fortunes around against a Hurricanes outfit that is beginning to hit their straps as they welcome back their star players.
“We have had a testing couple of weeks and we know the Hurricanes will be a strong challenge,” he said.
“We are not afraid of the contest on Friday, we have come together as a team and will focus on sticking to our structures and working on delivering our game plan.”
Other key changes includes the omission of impressive rookie wing Etene Nanai-Seturo, who has been dropped to the bench in place of Japanese international Ataata Moeakiola, while former New Zealand under-20 captain Luke Jacobson joins debutant Rory Coxon in the reserves to feature in the match day squad for the first time this year.
Chiefs: 1. Aiden Ross, 2. Nathan Ross, 3. Nepo Laulala, 4. Brodie Retallick (c), 5. Michael Allardice, 6. Mitchell Brown, 7. Mitch Karpik, 8. Tyler Ardron, 9. Brad Weber, 10. Marty McKenzie, 11. Ataata Moeakiola, 12. Anton Lienert-Brown, 13. Tumua Manu, 14. Sean Wainui, 15. Damian McKenzie
Reserves: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17. Rory Coxon, 18. Angus Ta’avao, 19. Taleni Seu, 20. Luke Jacobson, 21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22. Alex Nankivell, 23. Etene Nanai-Seturo
Hurricanes: 1. Toby Smith, 2. Dane Coles (c), 3. Ben May, 4. James Blackwell, 5. Vaea Fifita, 6. Reed Prinsep, 7. Du’Plessis Kirifi, 8. Ardie Savea, 9. TJ Perenara, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Wes Goosen, 12. Ngani Laumape, 13. Matt Proctor, 14. Jordie Barrett, 15. Chase Tiatia
Reserves: 16. Asafo Aumua, 17. Fraser Armstrong, 18. Alex Fidow, 19. Liam Mitchell, 20. Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Jackson Garde-Bachop, 23. Salesi Rayasi
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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