'Even their class moments in the first half, he was at 10': The case for shifting Damian McKenzie to first receiver
In the Chiefs’ long overdue win over the Hurricanes on Saturday night, the start of the victor’s remarkable comeback coincided with Damian McKenzie shifting from fullback to first five and the Chiefs coaches will be in two minds this week over whether the pocket rocked warrants a permanent place in the No 10 jersey.
The Hurricanes racked up three tries and held a 26-7 lead in the first half, with the Chiefs were staring down the barrel of a 12th successive loss until a momentum-shifting try to Chase Tiatia.
Tiatia entered the match in the 52nd minute in place of No 10 Kaleb Trask. The substitution saw McKenzie move to first five, with Tiatia taking over at fullback. Just five minutes after the change, Tiatia found himself on the end of a team-try that had all kicked off from a scrum penalty just five metres out from the Chiefs’ line.
The Chiefs went in again from the following kick-off, with McKenzie sparking a long-range contender for try of the season that featured some wonderful support play from the likes of Samipeni Finau, Brad Weber and Tiatia – plus an audacious offload from the replacement fullback.
Two more tries to forwards Naitoa Ah Kuoi and Luke Jacobson sealed the game for the Chiefs, 35-29, and now Clayton McMillan and his assistants will be considering some lineup changes ahead of the Chiefs’ upcoming match against the Blues.
Illustrating the difficult task ahead of McMillan and co, Aotearoa Rugby Pod panellists James Parsons and Bryn Hall were undecided on whether McKenzie should be named at No 10 from the get-go, instead of starting matches at fullback then shifting in-field later in the game.
“When [McKenzie] steps up to first receiver, things happen for the Chiefs,” Parsons said. “Whether he has to start at 10, I’m not too sure.
“Even their class moments in the first half, he was at 10, if you think about it. Kaleb Trask’s try, Damo was at first receiver. He cut that guy and he put Samisoni [Taukei’aho] through that hole.”
The Blues centurion acknowledged that it wasn’t just McKenzie’s presence at first receiver that changed the flow of the game, however.
“I really think Damian McKenzie’s one of the best fullbacks in the world and I just like him at fullback,” he said, “But, I’m also aware of the performance of Chase Tiatia and the energy he brought, the game changed when he came on.
“He’s an infectious player. Wing’s not a spot for him, midfield’s not a spot for him. If he’s going to start, he probably has to [play] fullback, which then you have to consider that Damo will be at 10.
“I think [Tiatia’s] a fullback; you need him in those open spaces and that freedom to roam. He’s a livewire, you want him to have that full length of the field ability to roam, you don’t want him to just be protecting the corner and, defensively, having to be in that pendulum where he’s got to be up high. Whereas that fullback role, if there’s any kick, he can make something out of nothing.”
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Hall, whose Crusaders side bested the Blues on Sunday and are sitting pretty on top of the Super Rugby Aotearoa ladder, suggested that while McKenzie’s shift into first five no doubt sparked the turn-around in the Chiefs’ fortunes, it doesn’t necessarily mean that starting him at No 10 is the best option.
“When you inject Damo at 10 [late in the match], it’s a little bit different than when you start a game and you’ve got to manage a game,” he said. “Do you get the same effect if he comes into 10 at the first minute compared to the 50th minute? Because I just feel that the game’s in the balance there, it’s a little bit more open, benches are coming on a little bit more and so the legs are taken out of you a little bit so then Damo can roam a little bit.
“But then you’ve got to reward Chase Tiatia, who was outstanding in the weekend – probably the difference, actually, to bringing that momentum back for the Chiefs. So, you’ve got to start having the conversation.”
McKenzie made his debut for the Chiefs in the No 10 jersey, guiding the team to a 23-18 over the Blues at Eden Park in 2015. In his six and a bit season of Super Rugby, McKenzie has played 60 games at fullback and 20 at first five – with the majority of those appearances at No 10 coming in the 2018 season.
It’s a similar story at international level, with McKenzie starting just a solitary match against France at pivot.
A pre-season start at No 10 earlier this year signalled that McMillan wasn’t dead-set on McKenzie’s role for the 2021 campaign and he’s regularly signposted that, at least in the latter stages of matches, we should expect to see the utility back playing at first receiver.
Both Parsons and Hall acknowledged that the difference between playing at No 10 and No 15 are becoming smaller and smaller, however, with both positions expected to handle playmaking duties.
“It will have to change his mindset against different teams that bring different defensive pictures but it’s six of one, half a dozen [of the other],” Parsons said. “You’re going to have less time but, as I said, that first try to Trask, [McKenzie] naturally does step up to first receiver when he’s in the 15 jersey anyway. So it won’t be that big a change. And sometimes a 10 drops back into the backfield so it’s not a massive shift.”
“I think it’s the way New Zealand teams play, having those two pivots,” said Hall. “There’s not a lot of change between 15 coming into 10 and Damo’s done it a long time, being in both positions, having a pretty good understanding of what it looks like.”
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The North Harbour pair said that, as both opposition players and fans, it’s in broken-field play that you really notice McKenzie shining.
“As a player, you’re on high alert when you see Damian McKenzie roaming around – especially off counter-attack,” Hall said. “He’s world-class when he gets to that counter-attack. There are little breaks in the line, he’s looking for that prop or that lock he can go at – like he did for that try where Weber scored.”
“You see the blonde head, the blond mullet just sprinting in, that injection into the line – that’s when I get excited as a fan, you just see him come from the backfield on that wide-angle and you just know something’s going to happen,” said Parsons. “That’s when I think he’s at his best and he’s dancing around.”
The Chiefs host the Blues at Waikato Stadium on Saturday evening. While a loss wouldn’t be season-ending for the home side, it would make the road ahead very difficult. Now that the monkey of a record losing streak is off their backs, however, they’ll enter the game with a new-found conviction that 2021 could still be their year.
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Comments on RugbyPass
I 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.
2 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 commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to comments