Damian McKenzie prepares for positional switch
Damian McKenzie is set to spend the next six months playing in Japan’s new League One competition before returning to New Zealand ahead of next year’s test season.
While he won’t immediately be eligible for the All Blacks – as was the case with TJ Perenara this year – a return to the national fold is very much in the plans for the 26-year-old, but it might not be in the No 15 jersey.
McKenzie has shifted between fullback and first five-eighth since he made his professional debut in 2014 but it’s in the former where he really made a name for himself.
From counter-attack and kick-returns, there’s perhaps no better player in the world at finding and exploiting gaps in unstructured defensive lines and McKenzie in full flight, setting up dazzling tries in a Chiefs jersey, has been a common sight over the past six years.
While McKenzie has even been the first-choice fullback for the All Blacks at various stages over the past few years, his semi-permanent position at the back has never lasted too long.
This year, McKenzie was handed the No 15 jersey to kick off the season but come the middle of the All Blacks’ test campaign, Jordie Barrett had well and truly taken hold of the role.
Now, it appears that McKenzie may be eyeing up a more permanent move to No 10, the position where he played his schoolboy rugby.
“I’ve sort of mixed and matched a little bit,” said McKenzie on the latest episode of James Marshall’s What a Lad podcast. “15, I enjoy the freedom of just doing your own thing, which is fun, but I do really enjoy 10 as well because you’re obviously in a bit more control and a bit more in the driver’s seat than you would be at 15. You get more touches on the ball.
“I’d say, moving forward, 10’s the position I want to try and focus on.”
Although McKenzie has dabbled at first five at various times since he first debuted for the Chiefs in the position in 2016, he was primarily used there as a stopgap measure until 2018, when Aaron Cruden departed the Chiefs and new coach Colin Cooper entrusted McKenzie with the reins.
All Blacks star Damian McKenzie has opened up about his decision to leave New Zealand and pursue a deal with Japanese club Tokyo Sungoliath. #AllBlacks #TokyoSungoliath #JapanRugbyLeagueOne https://t.co/GfApzfcxJF
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 1, 2021
McKenzie’s effectiveness was dampened with less space, however, and he was shifted back to fullback the following year before an ACL injury prematurely ended his season. The experiment wasn’t revised until this season, with Clayton McMillan giving McKenzie plenty of opportunities at No 10 throughout the Super Rugby campaign, and the now more experienced playmaker flourished in the role.
While McKenzie won’t be with the Chiefs in 2022, instead spending the season representing Tokyo Sungoliath in Japan, he’s expecting to primarily remain playing at No 10 – where Beauden Barrett was enlisted by the Sungoliath this year.
“I think it’s a position I’ll be playing over here in Japan, which will be good fun,” he said.
Although McKenzie has typically suggested that he has favoured the fullback role in the past, Jordie Barrett’s locking down of the position for the All Blacks could have influenced have change of heart. Of course, the pathway to playing No 10 isn’t exactly a free run either, with Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo’unga sharing the jersey this year.
“There’s plenty of good 10s around as well,” McKenzie acknowledged. “Two blokes, Beaudy and Richie, they’re top at the moment. They’re good to learn from but tough to get past at the moment.”
The League One season kicks off in early January which means that while the rest of McKenzie’s All Blacks teammates are enjoying a break away from rugby over the New Zealand summer, he’ll be springing into pre-season action as soon he’s free from his two-week hotel quarantine in Japan.
Comments on RugbyPass
Why 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.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to comments