'With Beaudy going, Richie is probably the only proven 10 in the country': All Blacks' first five shortage could influence the Chiefs' selections
The question over where the Chiefs should play their dynamic playmaker Damian McKenzie continues to go unanswered as the franchise looks to rectify their first time round performance in Super Rugby Aotearoa.
Their star fullback underwent a transition to first five in 2018 under Colin Cooper, where the season didn’t go as planned for the Chiefs.
All Black duties saw McKenzie move back to fullback on the 2018 end of year tour, and the Chiefs mirrored that move the following season before injury struck. On return in 2020, McKenzie again resumed duties as a fullback but the luckless Chiefs went 0-8 in their Super Rugby Aotearoa.
Former Blues hooker James Parsons believed McKenzie must stuck to fullback while new signing Bryn Gatland can provide what the Chiefs are missing.
“I think Damian really looks good at fullback, he is great at fullback, he injects himself into the game, he likes to move around,” he said on this week’s Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“When he was at first five on the weekend, he was roaming around and didn’t really give that clear platform.
“Where the Chiefs are at, I think they were really good against the Crusaders, they had heaps of opportunities in the 22 and their lineout just faulted. They couldn’t get reward for that amount of territory & possession pressure.
“So I think Bryn Gatland is a perfect fit for them. He will put the ball in front of his forwards, he will have good structure, good direction, great voice.
“And then having someone like Damian McKenzie injecting himself from the back, picking and choosing when he comes to first receiver, is a good fit in my opinion.”
Crusaders haflback Bryn Hall said the Chiefs were tough to play against in their recent warm-up fixture, and the threat of McKenzie at the back is always constant.
“It’s probably the unseen stuff that people don’t see that makes a good 10, it’s giving the forwards or the players around you confidence around the game plan and what you are trying to do.
“The points you are bringing up around a well-oiled machine, it looks normal, it looks like what it should look like. That’s what Bryn does really, really well. Great game management around seeing stuff, his kicking game, the space he sees in behind to put teams under pressure.
“He’s got a beautiful skillset when it comes to putting players in space as well. I think with Damo at 15 as well, he gets to roam and he’s so dangerous.
“I know when we play him at 15, you are on high alert every single time he has the ball because he has the ability to play off a pivot, he can play in-and-around, he can jink and jive across field and be more instinctive.
However, Hall highlighted the growing problem for the All Blacks with Beauden Barrett playing in Japan, that the number of proven first fives in the country is just down to just one.
“I do want to say one thing around Damian, if you think around the next level and with Beaudy Barrett not being here and Richie being the only incumbent 10 in New Zealand, where would be another place that Damo would be pretty safe to actually play?”
“If you look at the outside backs, Jordie Barrett, Will Jordan is there now, there is a really good opportunity for a number 10 in New Zealand Rugby.”
“With Beaudy going, Richie is probably the only proven 10 in the country.”
“Maybe Damian is thinking if I play 10, and play well, it opens up the possibility of playing 10 and 15. I’ve got to be selected in the All Blacks as a 10 and 15, not just a 15.”
Parsons suggested that McKenzie should perhaps play that role with the Chiefs, showing his versatility by starting at fullback and moving to first five later in the game to show Ian Foster his ability to cover both roles seamlessly.
“Why not play the role that he would play then? And slip into 10 late for the Chiefs? Start Bryn, and if Bryn comes off at 60 and Damian comes down from fullback to first five and play that role.
“Say ‘ok, this is the role I could play for you in the All Blacks’, I just think Bryn is just a great settled 10 and will just provide a great platform for the Chiefs to just work off and build on.
“He’ll earn the right for the Chiefs to play the Damian McKenzie-style late in the game when there is tiring bodies, and that’s what he’s done so well for Harbour over the years.
“If he gets given a crack, I’m telling you, he will be exceptional for the Chiefs at 10.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“Firing me” should have been Gatland’s answer.
2 Go to commentsFinn Russell logic: “World” = 4 countries. Ireland may be at or near the top. FR’s bigger concern should be he and his fellow Scots (incl. the Bloemfontein ones) sliding back down to below top 10
42 Go to commentsMind games have begun. Ireland learned their lesson after saying they could beat England with 13 players or whatever. Still, if they win at Loftus, that would be impressive - final frontier etc.
58 Go to comments$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
2 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
1 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
10 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
3 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
2 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
10 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
10 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
10 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to commentsThis sounds a lot like the old Welsh rugby proverb “Wales never lose. Other teams just score more points.”
5 Go to commentsFinally,at last, Borthwick has done what the whole of England have been crying out for. Ditch the kick chase and let the players have freedom to attack and run with the ball. It was great to see. Ford played really well and for the first time in ages was 5 yards closer to the gainline which then allowed a more attacking position . Pity it has taken 90 odd caps to do so. However, this has to continue and not be a false dawn . One issue. Marcus. With Ford having one really good game in 5 ,is he the answer long term . Smith puts bums on seats and is terrific to watch . How can you leave him out before he departs for France in disillusion . England are in danger of Simmons , Alex Goode , Cipriani , Mercer and now Smith being unable to get a selection ahead of “favourites” of the management regardless of form . Great to see England play so well .
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