Damian McKenzie describes new All Blacks attack as a 'mindset thing'

The All Blacks have spent the past week studying the new coaching group’s structures and ideologies, but Damian McKenzie says the shifts in the team’s attack are as much about mindset as shape.

The 74-Test playmaker is gearing up for his ninth season with the Kiwi national team, with Dave Rennie the fourth coach to select him since his 2016 debut.

McKenzie says all new coaches bring a “different style and a different flavour” to the environment, and the team have to learn quickly after assembling just 10 days out from the opening Test of the year.

“There’s an expectation with the All Blacks that you get into your books pretty quickly,” he told reporters after training at his old high school, Christ’s College, in Christchurch. “We were able to do that last week; it was good to get in for a few days so that we can hit the ground running this week.”

With some of the more prominent criticisms of the last coaching regime directed at the attack, there’s plenty of interest in what Rennie and new attack coach Mike Blair have devised to reignite New Zealand’s most famous traditional strength.

“I think it’s just a mindset thing; a bit of optimism around our counter-attack, our turnover ball, and just making sure we’re getting our eyes up the field and seeing opportunities, and when it’s on to play, we play,” McKeznie explained when asked about the changes being implemented.

“For me, that’s a great thing. I love playing that style of rugby. And you’ve definitely got to be fit; there’s nowhere you can hide for sure.

“So I’m excited for the game plan and the way we want to play. It suits a lot of our guys’ game styles.”

The team’s first five-eighth will shoulder much of the responsibility for bringing that mindset shift to life in-game, and McKenzie has some stern competition for the role.

The Chiefs star has been selected alongside two other No.10s for the July series, veteran Beauden Barrett and rising star Ruben Love, with Richie Mo’unga also spending time in the group last week to get across the bookwork while he awaits the resumption of his All Blacks eligibility, which kicks in once he has run out for Canterbury in the coming NPC season.

Love and McKenzie squared off in the most one-sided Super Rugby final in the competition’s history two weeks ago, with the young up-and-comer coming out on top.

“He’s a good player, and playing some great rugby. He’s had a great season,” McKenzie said of the Hurricanes game-driver. “He deserved everything he got this year, so it’s been nice to be able to link up with him.

“Although he’s still so young, he shows a lot of experience and maturity for his age. We saw that throughout the year.”

Awaiting the All Blacks in their first-ever Test match in Christchurch’s new roofed stadium is a France team that won the Six Nations in dramatic fashion in their last outing. While the Top 14 finalists will be unavailable for selection this week, Bordeaux’s star playmaker Matthieu Jalibert is one of the Champions Cup winners to be available to play his first Test match in the southern hemisphere.

“They’ve got some very exciting players,” McKenzie said of France. “Obviously, Jalibert at 10, he’s an exciting player, and they like to play an expansive game of rugby. Seeing the top sides in their competition compete, they play some exciting footy.

“So, particularly here in Christchurch under the roof, I’m sure we’re going to see a lot of that. It’s going to be a tough Test.”