Liam Messam: Understanding Chiefs system has been 'a learning thing for Damian'

In the showpiece of round 13, the Chiefs were steered to a statement victory over the Crusaders by Damian McKenzie, in a performance that highlighted the playmaker’s growth.

In his 10th season in Chiefs colours, McKenzie has his club poised as favourites in Super Rugby Pacific, and had his fingerprints all over a potential final preview win over the weekend.

The All Black kept his side in touch during a first half in which they struggled to compete, by landing penalties when they were on offer, while an Emoni Narawa try on the stroke of halftime reduced the Crusaders’ lead from 16 to nine.

McKenzie, who attended high school in Christchurch, had a relatively quiet game with the ball-in-hand by his mercurial standards, but had a game-high dozen kicks in the contest, contributing well to his side’s territorial advantage.

Territory

14%

46%

17%

23%

40%

Territory

60%

Chiefs assistant coach and former All Black Liam Messam weighed in on his star’s performance following the win, saying McKenzie’s growth allows him to influence the game even when he’s not the one making the linebreaks himself.

“He’s a world-class player, isn’t he? The best in the world in his position,” Messam told SportNation’s Scotty and Izzy radio show.

“To have his guidance and confidence to put the team in the right parts of the field, and also have the ability to pull a rabbit out of the hat and do something extraordinary.

“He just led the team really well, put them into the right spots. And, probably, his calmness and confidence within the group, especially in high-pressure moments, has really paid off.

“It’s awesome to have Joshy J (Jacomb) come on and use his kicking ability to put teams back down in those corners. Our game drivers did an awesome job that day.”

Messam has been in place to see McKenzie’s maturation throughout his career, especially since transitioning into coaching.

A two-time Commonwealth Games gold-medalist in the Sevens game, an undefeated professional boxer through seven fights and as of March 1st, an Iron Man, Messam knows a thing or two about evolving as an athlete.

While McKenzie can be the most unpredictable talent in rugby, Messam says he’s reached a point in his career where he fulfils the role required of him while still offering bucketloads of X-factor.

“We’ve got a style that the Chiefs play, an identity, and that hasn’t changed for a very, very long time, and I think it’s been a learning thing for Damian,” Messam explained.

“Obviously, when he was a lot younger and coming into the team, we didn’t know what he was going to do; he’d just do what Damian does. Now, he’s mastered his craft at 10 and plays that style that really benefits the Chiefs’ DNA and how we try and play.

“He’s a really great communicator, I think people try to compare other 10s when it’s their turn to put on the jersey, but Damian just does a really great job, with all of his experience, to lead that Chiefs team around in the way that we want to play rugby.”