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Damian McKenzie is no better than when he started his All Blacks career
I’d be quite happy never to see Damian McKenzie don an All Blacks jumper again.
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I’ve no quarrel with the man, there’s nothing about him that offends or upsets me. Nor would I question his Super Rugby performances or talent.
It’s just that, on the test rugby stage, it feels as if we’ve seen all there is to see.
McKenzie is not New Zealand’s best fullback. That’s Jordie Barrett, by a wide margin.
Barrett’s form this test season is a credit to him, not least because he’s one of the few All Blacks you would say replicates or betters their franchise efforts.
We say test rugby is a step up and actually sometimes it is. But often, with 2021 being a case in point, the opponents are so short of Super Rugby standard it’s not funny.
Tonga, Fiji, the United States, Italy; they’d arguably all go a Super season without victory.
Wales and Australia might nick a game off the Highlanders or Hurricanes, but it’s hard to see them troubling the Crusaders or Blues any time soon.
I’ll return to the idea of players not regularly replicating their Super Rugby form, but first back to McKenzie.
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The guy has skills and an appealing touch of cheek. He’s ambitious and unpredictable and a handy goalkicker too.
But, as test rugby’s played these days, he’s not the bloke I want under high balls.
Teams seem pretty happy to kick to the All Blacks, and provided those kicks are contestable and the chase is a good one, then often it’s effective.
When the kick’s too deep and the defensive line’s staggered, then look out.
This All Blacks team still needs to evolve. There remain a number of positions still up for grabs, plus some indecision about how the team should actually play.
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Barrett is one player who demands selection in every test of consequence, but we still need a back-up.
I’m not convinced McKenzie is that guy. I think he lacks the solidity and dependability and accuracy to be a test fullback.
I also suspect he’s become a bit diminutive to bring the ball back against advancing defences.
I’d like to see Will Jordan tried at fullback instead. Partly because I believe he’s a good option there, but also to give Sevu Reece more opportunity on the right wing.
Beyond Jordan, David Havili appeals as a superior option to McKenzie at 15 as well.
I’d also, when it comes to the back-three, like to see some recognition of who’s actually playing.
It’s fine, if predictable, that the All Blacks like to have the blindside wing cart the ball up from set pieces. And if that wing is Jonah Lomu or Va’aiga Tuigamala or Rieko Ioane, then happy days.
But, as it was against Italy, that wing is little old George Bridge and he’s being pounded by a set defensive line, then surely we have enough nous to try something different.
Good on Bridge for sacrificing his body for the cause, but come on.
I’d say the form of most of the All Blacks this season has been adequate.
A few players, such as Jordie and Beauden Barrett, Jordan, Ardie Savea and Sam Whitelock have been consistently good, but not many.
I reckon that’s a coaching issue. I mean, it’s not as if the All Blacks are up against elite opposition each week.
And yet, unless they seize on a bad kick-chase, when do New Zealand’s backs bust any defences open?
With all due respect to Wales and Italy, neither of them are particularly good. Try as the All Blacks might, though, they couldn’t beat either by playing their preferred brand of rugby.
No, they had to tuck the ball up the jumper and play almost entirely through the forwards.
How was it that the Italy test went on so long before someone recognised that trying to shift the ball was a waste of time?
It’s hard not to feel as if this All Blacks team – particularly the backs – has been failed by its coaches. One way or another Ian Foster, for instance, has been involved since 2012 and yet which backs have improved or at least lived up to their Super Rugby billing in that time?
It’s surely not an issue of talent, as evidenced by McKenzie. He’s as gifted as anyone but, 39 games into his All Blacks career, McKenzie is no better than when he started.
He may even be worse and, on that basis, it’s time for someone else to show if they’re better equipped to deal with the coaching and tactical inadequacies the team appear stuck with.
I actually think Dmac's best chance at test rugby is at 10. He played really well there v Argentina. I don't believe the cross field running a la league that he showed during Super 12 will cut it in the the test arena but I think there is scope to bring him on at 10 in the last 20. He's worked on his punting the last few years prob needs a little more distance and he'll be fine.
I love Damian McKenzie. He got me, a fanatic football (American) fan to put down my loathing of non-American sports and see the excitement in rugby. Now, I love rugby more than any other. Anyway, I can understand if you think he should come off the bench vs starting... but not making the 23 seems mad to me. I think the coaching staff needs to let him go and be himself.
I appreciate this is not the the crux of the article but saying Wales and Australia would be lucky to win a game is staggering. It also amazes me how England routinely get beaten with the arrogant stick with comments like this from Kiwis.
Your opinion has been well received Moe I'm sure however, if you had read some previous comments, it would suggest that coaching staff, not Damien McKenzie, are being blamed for a below parr performance by the All Blacks. Poor selection and performance in key positions maybe? No disrespect to a quality player in Damien McKenzie, as we have seen some exciting plays from him in the black jersey, the article is being used as an example of poor selection and performance. No malice intended I'm sure....
You can't blame one man for a shit performance from the whole team. Considering it is young squad. Like everyone else it's only your own opinion as mine.
Unfortunately going after one man ain't gonna do you any justice . You might as well point fingers at the coaching . End of the day it's only ones opinion.
G and andrew
That's such nonsense. Wales are a good team at strength. They definitely suffer from some All Blacks hoodoo, but it's doubtful a super rugby team could undo them. And how are you ranking Damien Mackenzie? On fancy stuff I guess. I think he is just guilty of not matching the razzle dazzle he brings at the lower super level . Are his error rate, decision making, defence, really that bad?
Finally someone brave enough to front the Waikato mob. McKenzie is a gifted player but Jordie Barrett has gone from a good super rugby player to a great full back. Mckenzie's strength is coming off the bench and sliding through half gaps, off loading and creating chances when the defence is tired. He is not tall enough to defuse the up and unders and leaves the All Blacks exposed to that attack. The problem that Ian Foster has is that virtually no one wanted him as coach and his refusal to pick the best people in the each position comes back to haunt him when we lose. The Italy game was a case in point. I get that it's "a log tour, and we have have to keep people fresh" but that was terrible. Yes we won, and the scoreboard suggests comfortably, but the lack of cohesion, the lack of discipline, the lack of ability to adept to the refereeing style was alarming and that comes down to the coaches. They picked the side and they failed to make sure that they ready for the match. Unless there is a major focus change then we will not win the next world cup, in fact, I would not be surprised if we didn't make the semis. God I hope I wrong.
It is not about DMac who has played excellents/ defining games for the Abs such as vs England in 2018 and Ireland and Boks (2019). But our offense has not improved vs semifinal 2019 - Foster &Co seem to refuse innovation - just compare what Rennie and Brown do on offense. ABS rely on individual genius (great to have) but have very little creativity in attacking play (having of course amazing players available)
Our backplay is unimaginative, predictable and tactically inept. We keep banging away with the same plays of the Hansen era....