'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
pure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
1 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
25 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
25 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
25 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to comments