Liam Messam named for 100th cap as Damian McKenzie dons No 10 for Waikato
While the kick-off of the latest iteration of New Zealand’s provincial completion may be playing second-fiddle to the All Blacks‘ tour of South Africa at present, Waikato have managed to name a side that should attract plenty of eyes when they take on Hawke’s Bay this weekend.
Waikato, the current champions of the NPC, will run out an experienced team for their first match of the season, which includes 13 players who featured in last year’s grand final.
It’s the inclusion of impending centurion Liam Messam and returning All Black Damian McKenzie that will unsurprisingly capture the most attention, however.
Messam, who made his debut for Waikato back in 2003 – when current All Blacks coach Ian Foster was in charge of the provincial side – was poised to earn his 100th cap last season until Covid forced the team to relocate to the Bay of Plenty for the latter stages of the campaign. Messam remained in Hamilton, however, and managed to earn his 99th cap appearance in the grand final when the side was able to return to the local region.
Accruing 100 runs on the board will mark an incredible achievement for the former All Black, who has also clocked up 43 caps for the national side and is the most capped Chiefs player of all time, with 184 appearances to his name.
Damian McKenzie, meanwhile, will make his first professional appearance in New Zealand since last year’s mid-year tests. While the pocket rocket travelled to Australia and Europe with the All Blacks for the Rugby Championship and northern tour, he found himself playing second-fiddle to Jordie Barrett in the No 15 jersey.
Following the test campaign, McKenzie suggested that he was weighing up a permanent shift to the first five role for his time in Japan, where he had signed to play for Tokyo Sungoliath for the season. Although McKenzie spent much of his time at fullback, he continued to shift between the two positions throughout the campaign and now appears to be set for an extended run at No 10 for Waikato.
McKenzie will partner Xavier Roe in the halves while the Chiefs’ debutant of the season, Cortez Ratima, will provide back-up for Roe off the bench.
In the midfield, D’Angelo Leuila – one of the heroes of last season – will line up alongside Hurricanes centre Bailyn Sullivan. Debutants Daniel Sinkinson and Tepaea Cook-Savage will combine with the experienced Liam Coombes-Fabling, with Alapati Leuia and Mosese Dawai covering the outside backs on the bench.
Up front, co-captain Ayden Johnstone, Rhys Marshall and George Dyer form an impressive front-row while James Tucker and Hamilton Burr will resume their successful partnership from last season.
Messam – wearing the No 6 jersey – will link up with Mitch and Luke Jacobson in the loose forwards.
Pita Anae-Ah Sue, Rob Cobb, Sefo Kautai, Laghlan McWhannell and Jack Lam round out the reserves.
Altogether, 21 of the 23 players named for Saturday’s match have played Super Rugby.
This weekend’s fixture kicks off at 4:35pm NZT from Waikato Stadium.
Waikato: Tepaea Cook-Savage, Liam Coombes-Fabling, Bailyn Sullivan, D’Angelo Leuila, Daniel Sinkinson, Damian McKenzie, Xavier Roe, Luke Jacobson, Mitch Jacobson (cc), Liam Messam, Hamilton Burr, James Tucker, George Dyer, Rhys Marshall, Ayden Johnstone (cc). Reserves: Pita Anae-Ah Sue, Rob Cobb, Sefo Kautai, Laghlan McWhannell, Jack Lam, Cortez Ratima, Alapati Leuia, Mosese Dawai.
Comments on RugbyPass
This is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
86 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
19 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
29 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
226 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
226 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to commentsIf he had stopped insisting on playing in the backrow, instead of wing, where everyone told him he should, he would have been a Bok years ago….
11 Go to comments‘Salads don’t win scrums’ 😂 I love that.
19 Go to commentsCan’t wait for the article that talks about misogyny in Ireland. Somehow.
19 Go to commentsI would like to see a rule change, when the attacking team is held up over the try line, by allowing the defensive team to restart a goal line drop out releases the pressure for the defensive team, but what if the attacking team had to restart a tap 5m out from the defensive team it gives the attacking team to apply more pressure, there are endless options for the attacking side and it will keep the fans in suspence.
2 Go to commentsLess modern South African males predictably triggered.
19 Go to commentsMy heart is with Quins, but the head is convinced Toulouse have too much. Ntamack is back, his timing and wisdom has been missed.
1 Go to commentsWow, what a starting line up for the Sharks) Tasty up front,kremer vs Tshituka or venter …fiery ,,Lavannini ,,will he knobble etzebeth? Biggest game for belleau?
1 Go to commentsIt was rubbish to watch, Blues weren’t even present. Did what they had to do, nothing more. Should be better next week against canes.
1 Go to commentsI’ve just noticed that this match has an all-French refereeing team. Surely a game like this ought to have a neutral ref? Although looking at the BBC preview of the Saints game, Raynal is also down as reffing that - so there may be some confusion about who is reffing what.
1 Go to comments