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'I was a bit nervous': All Blacks stars opens up on nerve-racking provincial return for Waikato
You would be hard stretched to find a friendship pairing stronger than that of Anton Lienert-Brown and Damian McKenzie, but it’s the return to where it all began professionally that has had the two star All Blacks smiling as of late.
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It’s rare to see the absolute cream of the crop being given the time to return to their provincial roots and have the opportunity to pass on knowledge to fellow rugby players getting the first taste of professionalism.
Yet, thanks to an unpredictable rugby calendar in a year like no other, the Mitre 10 Cup is currently basking in the glory of having all of the country’s best available to take part.
For Lienert-Brown and McKenzie, playing for Waikato is where the bonds of their time together as rugby professionals, and teammates, first began to evolve.
Fast forward a few years, they’re now two of the most recognisable faces in rugby on these shores with substantial All Blacks experience.
Reaching this high level does indeed dictate a lot of time, personal sacrifice, and the complicated requirement of being consistently in the limelight, all the while having to grow up faster than most.
That’s a high degree of pressure on what are two men aged just 25, but it’s their friendship which has been their greatest asset to one another. Yes, they play professionally together, but they’re great mates above all else.
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Returning to the provincial scene for the first time in several seasons was a special experience for Lienert-Brown, who admitted to being more nervous than usual ahead of his first game in Waikato colours since 2015, when he played a part in helping the province capture the Ranfurly Shield.
“The last time I wore these colours we won the Ranfurly Shield, so there are some special memories,” Lienert-Brown said.
“In all honesty, I was a bit nervous because I knew I needed to step up and lead by actions, but I prepare the same every week whether I’m playing provincial or for the All Blacks.”
Even four years after his last appearance for Southland, veteran hooker Jason Rutledge stood as one of the province's most revered cult heroes.
Following his return to action this weekend, his reputation within the region must have grown even stronger.https://t.co/QnzbzucUNP
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 14, 2020
For McKenzie, who last played provincial rugby back in 2016, the ability to give back to the province that gave him the initial professional opportunity and play afternoon rugby in the sun for an ultimately victorious first outing for Waikato in 2020.
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“My last game was back in 2016 so it’s nice to come back and play for the province that gave me the opportunity to move forward,” McKenzie said.
“I just love this afternoon rugby because you don’t have to wait around all day to get out there and play so to top that off with a win is the first for myself personally, which is a great feeling.”
Being high profile All Blacks, naturally some of the attention will soon have to return to the commitments in the black jersey.
For both men, news of a potential 10-week stint in Australia for the Rugby Championship was relatively fresh when speaking to media after Waikato’s big 53-28 win over Wellington.
“I just want to play footy,” Lienert-Brown said. “We haven’t been sent a schedule or anything like that so until I hear from the All Blacks management themselves I’m happy just chipping away here with Waikato.”
Having another chance to pull on the All Blacks strip will be one not to be turned down by McKenzie.
“I haven’t read too much into it but you don’t ever turn down opportunities to play for the All Blacks, so when that time comes it will be the priority, but for now it’s about focusing on my time here with the Waikato boys.”
For the time being, the pair will be firmly focused on imparting their knowledge on what is still a young Waikato side.
Waikato coach Andrew Strawbridge, a man who has spent a lot of time with the pair in the Chiefs environment, says that the real benefit of having All Blacks back in the environment is how their experience helps install discipline in players coming through the ranks.
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“To reach the top of rugby in New Zealand requires you to be a reasonably special character,” Strawbridge said.
“Damian and Anton are both steady boys and they help focus the young guys on the things that are important, which helps gets discipline around their thought processes and actions.”
RugbyPass understands that Lienert-Brown and McKenzie will feature for Waikato in rounds two and three of the Mitre 10 Cup, during which time a schedule of the All Blacks travel plans will be finalised.
Comments on RugbyPass
The World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
1 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
2 Go to commentsThe 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
19 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 comments