'You're either hero or zero': Damian McKenzie's mentality ahead of important career footnote
It’s business as usual for Damian McKenzie and his Chiefs teammates.
Saturday’s Super Rugby Aotearoa final will mark an important footnote in the rugby story that is Damian McKenzie, and there will be much expectation thrust upon the 28-year-old as he pulls that familiar grin at Orangetheory Stadium in what will be something close to the biggest night in his career thus far.
Finally, after what seems like a long time trying, the Chiefs get a legitimate shot at capturing silverware.
“It’s finals week and you can’t hide from that so it’s really exciting,” McKenzie said on Tuesday. “It’s not about changing anything or inventing anything new, it’s just about going about our week in the way we have for the last few games. The boys are fizzed and there’s heaps of energy around the camp.”
For the man himself, it’s been eight long years of toil, slog, disappointment, and something of a refresh as well. The question has always been one of execution. Could McKenzie take all that he does well and use it toward something other than a highlight reel?
It has certainly taken time.
McKenzie has had to study the art of being a professional rugby player since his transition from college rugby star, to prospect for the future, to young All Black, and now to a senior cog in the Chiefs’ fortunes week-in, week-out.
Aspects of the journey have been inherently difficult for the quietly spoken Southlander who, back in 2014, could’ve easily signed for the Crusaders before ultimately choosing Hamilton as his base on a three-year Chiefs contract guarantee.
Because of the way McKenzie plays the game, his popularity has consistently surged, especially amongst kids. Did the talented utility back, whilst also learning to be an adult in a pro rugby environment, expect such notoriety so quickly? Absolutely not.
Who could blame those kids for choosing the Chiefs’ pocket-rocket as their favourite player. It’s easy to be a fan of someone who plays the game the way McKenzie does.
Pablo Matera is going to have his work cut out for him at @CrusadersRugby next year – but he's going to be a huge addition to the champion side. #SuperRugbyAotearoahttps://t.co/Fs6epQG6Zq
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 4, 2021
Something other than the status quo, that’s Damian McKenzie.
A player that can ignite from literally anywhere on the park and do it in a way that provides high entertainment value, that’s Damian McKenzie.
91 Super Rugby caps later, only now does it feel like we might just be seeing the best of what he has to offer, and ironically, it’s not because of the aspects listed above.
McKenzie has been more controlled in his play this season, seemingly comfortable being a distributor, presenting a noticeable tone down in radical decision making in comparison to his earlier years.
The only thing that is close to radical in nature about the 2021 version is the mullet growing on his head.
McKenzie leads the points tally in Super Rugby Aotearoa with 98 in total as the Chiefs head into the final. Crossing the line three times, the clear majority have come from the tee, executing all but a handful of opportunities to put the ball between the posts.
Not once, not twice, but on three occasions McKenzie delivered the fell blow with his boot, coming out the hero.
If you’ve been watching, the lead up to those match-winning kicks off the tee have seen the 28-year-old vividly talk himself into a state of calm. Two claps of the hands and a rub of the forehead, you’re seeing McKenzie telling himself that these are the moments he’s practised thousands of times on the training paddock.
“When you’re in those situations and you’re a kicker, you live for those moments. Obviously, you’re either hero or zero and I’ve been fortunate for a few of them to go over which has been great but there’s things that happen before which people might not always see in the build-up to those penalties and for me, it’s not about changing too much and just going about the process.”
David Havili has been banging on the #AllBlacks' selection door for some time now – but it's his somewhat surprising move to the midfield that could cement his spot in the national set-up. @CrusadersRugby
Analysis from @TheChaseRugby.https://t.co/xKj0tNnm6S
— The XV Rugby (@TheXV) May 3, 2021
Cynics will argue that the long straight kicks are the easy ones to nail while conveniently ignoring other impressive feats McKenzie has brought to the table this season, particularly when slotting into first receiver on the fly and holding the pass long enough for his outsides to exploit once the gap has opened up.
McKenzie knows the target is on his back, something that has been a maturing process in itself.
Coming back from the devastating ACL rupture in 2019, leaders in the Chiefs side spoke of the expectations being too great in his return year. The form on the paddock showed just that but, clearly, McKenzie came into the 2021 season with a new calmness and trust in the process.
Described as a maverick in his early days by many at the Chiefs, McKenzie’s composure and execution under pressure speaks to the change that has been evident in recent times.
The ability to slow down, read the situation in front of him, and be confident in his decision making as a result.
“I’ve been coming in [to first five] late in the game which I enjoy. People start to get a bit tired so holes start to open up so it’s nice to be able to get the front line on attack a bit more but I’m still enjoying fullback and I’ve got some good guys around me.”
Whether at first receiver, back at fullback, or off the kicking tee, if Damian McKenzie can hold his nerve and come through clutch for the Chiefs once again, he’ll be doing his bit to bring the trophy home.
Comments on RugbyPass
We’re building a bridge but can't agree where the river is.
2 Go to commentsfirst no arms shoulder or helmet tackle into his rib cage is going to be so very painful even to watch. go back to RU mate.
1 Go to commentsBulls by 5. Plus another 50.
3 Go to commentsJohan Goosen avatar. Cute. Surely someone at RP knows how to do a google image search?
3 Go to commentsCan’t these games play a little earlier? Asking for a friend.
3 Go to commentsIt’s impressive that we can see huge stadiums with attendance in the 40 000 to 50 000 region. It shows how popular this competition is becoming. What is even more impressive is the massive growth in broadcast viewership. The URC is one of the two best leagues in the World, the other being the Top14.
7 Go to commentsChristie is not Sottish, like the majority of the Scotland team.
2 Go to commentsHold the phone, decline over-rated. Is it a one game, dead cat bounce or the real thing? Has the Penney dropped? Stay tuned.
45 Go to commentsTotally deserved win for the Crusaders Far smarter than the Chiefs who seem to be avoiding the basics when it matters Hotham showed them what was missing and Hannah seems a real find - a tad light but that can be fixed over time
8 Go to commentsGreat insight into the performance culture with Sarries and I predict Christie will be a fixture in the Scotland team now for some time to come. However, he is slightly missing his own point around Scotland “being soft” when he cites physicality examples in defence of that slight. The issue is much closer to the example he referenced around feeling off before a game but being told “it doesn’t matter, you can still play well” by Farrell. Until Scotland can get their psyche in that square, they will carry on folding under extreme pressure…
2 Go to comments> We are having to adapt, evolve and innovate more than when we were in Super Rugby where there was only really one style that everybody had to play to gain the most success. Have = able to? Interesting what that one style might be? I thought SA sides still had bad tours now, or at least bad schedule, months away? Those extra few hours flights have to be a killer though, no surprise to see their sides doing so badly at the start of the season each year. I wouldn’t enjoy that unfairness as a supporter.
7 Go to commentsThe problem for NZ, and Aus, is they ripped up the SR model and lost a massive chunk of revenue that hasn’t been replaced. Don’t forget SA clubs went North because they were left with no choice, Argy unceremoniously binned and Japan cast adrift. Now SR wasn’t perfect, far from it, but they’ve jumped into something without an effective plan, so far, to replace what they’ve lost. The biggest revenue potential now lies in Japan but it won’t be easy or quick to unlock, they are incredibly insular in culture as a nation. In the meantime, there is a serious time bomb sitting under SH rugby and if it happens then the current financial challenges will look like a picnic. IF the Boks follow their provincial teams and head north then it’s revenue meltdown. Not guaranteed to happen but the status quo is a very odd hybrid, with the Boks pointing one way and the clubs pointing the other way. And for as long as that remains then the threat is real.
45 Go to commentsI think Etene has had some good tuition, likely while at the Warriors to be a professional that helped his rugby jump, but he was certainly thrown in the deep end way too early. Should have arguably 20 less SR caps, and therefor a way better record that he does at his age, but his development would have been fast tracked by the need to satiate his signing away from league. Again, credit to him and others that he has done it so well. Easy to fall over under that pressure in the big leagues like that but he kept at it when I myself wasn’t sure he was good enough.
1 Go to commentsAwesome story. I wonder what a bigger American (SA) scene might have mean for Brex.
1 Go to comments“Johnny McNicholl and the Crusaders” save a Penney. Who has been in camp this week and showed them how to play?
8 Go to commentsSo, reports of the Crusaders’ demise / terminal decline are perhaps just - slightly - premature/exaggerated…? 🤔 Will we see a deep-dive into that by the estimable Rugbypass scribes, and maybe one or two mea culpas? Thought not.
8 Go to comments1. The Chiefs are rudderless without DMac, which enhances his AB chances 2. Chiefs pack are powderpuffs. The hard men arent there anymore 3. They had their golden title chance last yr and wont threaten this yr. Gone in second round of playoffs.
8 Go to commentsHonestly, why did you have to publish such a foolish article the day they play us? 😂
45 Go to comments> They are not standalone entities. They are linked to an amateur association which holds the FFR licence that allows the professional side to compete in the league. That’s a great rule. This looks like the chicken or egg professional scenario. How long is it going to be before the club can break even (if that is even a thing in French rugby)? If the locals aren’t into well it would be good to se them drop to amateur level (is it that far?). Hope they can reset from this level and be more practical, there will be a time when they can rebuild (if France has there setup right).
1 Go to commentsWhat about changing the ball? To something heavier and more pointed that bounces unpredictably. Not this almost round football used these days.
35 Go to comments