McMillan hints that Damian McKenzie is set for a Super Rugby rest
Super Rugby Trans-Tasman can’t arrive fast enough.
That’s not because the rugby on show in either the Aotearoa and AU competitions isn’t to a high enough standard – because that’s obviously not the case. And it’s not because fans are getting a little bit bored with playing the same old teams week-in and week-out – although there may be some truth to that.
It’s simply because week after week, clubs are having to field their top teams, knowing that every match could be the one that decides the fate of their season.
When the Trans-Tasman competition arrives in a month’s time, there’ll finally be time for top players to take a rest from the action and see if their sides can handle the rigours of playing against foreign opposition without always having the best and busiest to call upon.
Damian McKenzie is one such man, having played in all 480 minutes of the Chiefs’ campaign to date.
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The All Blacks fullback is due a weekend off – but every week for the past month has effectively been a knockout game for the Chiefs after losing their opening two matches of the competition. Since their defeat at the hands of the Crusaders in Round 3 of the competition, the Hamilton-based side have strung together four successive victories and despite the Hurricanes being bottom of the table, coach Clayton McMillan isn’t about to rest one of his top players.
“We’ve won some games at the death – a lot of games at the death,” said McMillan on Wednesday. “What we learned last year is that it could easily go the other way. I think the Hurricanes, to a certain extent, are probably feeling the same way that we probably felt last year.”
A win on Friday will get the Chiefs one foot in the grand final and while a loss wouldn’t end their chances, it will guarantee that they need to secure an away victory against the Blues in Auckland a week later.
As such, a rest for McKenzie simply wasn’t on the cards, with the utility back named to start in the No 15 jersey.
“At the beginning of every week or the end of every week, we look at injuries, we look at workloads, we look at people in key positions,” said McMillan, “and he’s someone who’s played big minutes and so at some stage we need to look to give him an opportunity to have a bit of a rest.”
"What we learned last year is that it could easily go the other way." #CHIvHUR #SuperRugbyAotearoahttps://t.co/wnuqOXIe0d
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McKenzie has been a key figure in the Chiefs’ victories, scoring late-game match-winning points against the Blues, Highlanders and Crusaders. He also helped spark a massive comeback against the Hurricanes in his side’s first win of their 2021 campaign after shifting from fullback into first five late in the match.
McKenzie started last weekend’s win against the Crusaders at No 10 but is back wearing No 15 this week, with Bryn Gatland taking over the playmaking duties.
“We were really stoked with how [McKenzie] played at 10 last week, but also equally happy with how Bryn did in the last game [coming off the bench],” McMillan said.
One key cog in the Chiefs engine room will sit out Friday’s match, however, with Luke Jacobson sidelined through concussion. McMillan sought to quell fears about any long-term concerns for the loose forward, who’s dealt with his fair share of concussions throughout his career to date.
“He’s in there in the gym this morning, [but] given his history of taking a few dings, we want to be extra cautious, but he’s looking fine,” said the coach. “He woke up on Sunday and felt a little dusty, so straight away, we ruled him out for the week.
“He’s gonna bounce back really quickly but this little setback is timely I think because we probably would have considered giving him some time out at the end of this week or next week anyway.”
Friday evening’s match kicks off at 7:05pm NZT from Hamilton.
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Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
36 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
36 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
36 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
36 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
36 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
36 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
36 Go to comments