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Andrew Mehrtens on what the All Blacks lose with Damian McKenzie at No10

Damian McKenzie of New Zealand during The Rugby Championship match between New Zealand All Blacks and Argentina at Eden Park on August 17, 2024 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Current All Blacks No10 Damian McKenzie has to begin “priding himself on the boring things”, according to Andrew Mehrtens, a player who wore that jersey with aplomb two decades ago.

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The 29-year-old has become the All Blacks’ first-choice flyhalf under Scott Robertson in the absence of Riche Mo’unga, a role he appears to be thriving in thus far.

Having spent the early stages of his All Blacks career playing at fullback with Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett ahead of him, McKenzie has been given licence to run the team. This is even while Barrett remains in the squad currently, playing either at fullback or from the bench.

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Response to the pre-match Haka chaos at Ellis Park | RPTV

The Boks Office crew, joined by Andrew Mehrtens, discuss the performance of the Haka before facing South Africa. Watch the full episode on RugbyPass TV

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Response to the pre-match Haka chaos at Ellis Park | RPTV

The Boks Office crew, joined by Andrew Mehrtens, discuss the performance of the Haka before facing South Africa. Watch the full episode on RugbyPass TV

Watch now

Joining the team on RugbyPass TV’s Boks Office this week, Mehrtens, who was once the All Blacks highest points-scorer, gave his verdict on whether he sees McKenzie as a No10 or a No15.

While he said that McKenzie long term is a “really good No10”, he said that the team miss him breaking the game up from fullback. He likes the idea of the Chiefs star at first-receiver, but prefers when he occasionally fills the role as it makes him less predictable, comparing the impact he can have on the game to Willie le Roux’s for South Africa.

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From one flyhalf to another, the advice he gave McKenzie was to do the boring things well. Mehrtens said that his fellow No10 has “all the skills”, but must learn to balance his natural attacking game with the less glamorous side of running the ship.

“He’s got a lot to offer anywhere on the field,” the 70-cap All Blacks said.

“I’ve always liked him as first-receiver when he’s playing fullback. When he comes in he’s maybe first-receiver 20 per cent of the time, very similar to Willie le Roux, breaks it up, really makes the defence think ‘ok, what’s going on here’.

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“So he’s a bit more predictable, naturally, when he’s getting the ball more regularly, but he’s got all the skills, all the ability and I think probably him finding a balance for himself within his natural game – which is to attack from everywhere – but also just priding himself on the boring things as well. He’s got a good kicking game, he’s a good passer, he’s brave, so I think long term he is a really good No10.

“With Beauden Barrett as well, there’s also a case to be said that his best role is coming off the bench and lifting it, working alongside DMac.”

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5 Comments
T
TT 57 days ago

None of it matters if the following be true...


'All Blacks flyhalf Damian McKenzie is in advanced talks over a deal that will see him play for Top 14 outfit La Rochelle for the rest of the season, according to French website Rugby Prime'

T
TT 57 days ago

None of it matters if the following be true... 'All Blacks flyhalf Damian McKenzie is in advanced talks over a deal that will see him play for Top 14 outfit La Rochelle for the rest of the season, according to French website Rugby Prime'

B
B.J. Spratt 58 days ago

Jesus DS that's bit harsh. 27 of the All Blacks fell "Violently ill " 35 hours before the game. Amazing we got that close!

G
GrahamVF 55 days ago

It was originally reported as 12 but it seems that number is growing as the legend grows. Do you know that the AB management sent a written letter of apology to the Sun International after the hotel threatened to sue them? Secondly Suzie must have been quite a shape shifter because the AB squad ate at three different places on the Thursday night. We are not even going to talk about Bryce Lawrence "sorry I just froze" who gifted the AB's their second home WC - they've only won one outside of NZ. They nearly lost to a very mediocre French team that the Boks had given a big hiding the year before and the year after the 2011 WCF game. Can we please give up the lame historic and clutching at straws excuses. Fitzpatrick himself later said:""I don't think we played our final the week before, I think we were as ready as we could be. Tactically, we probably got it wrong, and Kitch Christie [Springbok head coach] did a great job of shutting us down." so take a hint from a proper Kiwi and move on a leave the excuses where they deserve to be.

D
DS 59 days ago

The ABs not using their passing and running skills in the last 20 minutes was criminal and cost them the game.

If Andrew M had concentrated on doing the boring bits like drop kicks, NZ might have lifted the W Cup in 1995!

L
LB 57 days ago

Mehrtens did kick a drop goal in that game early in the second half. its just that Kransky got the last drop kick.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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