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'Single handedly carried that team': Ex-All Black questions Damian McKenzie's selection in world XV
By Ben Smith
Former All Black fullback Israel Dagg has questioned the selection of Damian McKenzie in the dream 15 international team of the year at the World Rugby awards.
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McKenzie started the first eight Tests of the season under Scott Robertson before being moved to the bench in favour of Beauden Barrett for the final Bledisloe game.
The Chiefs playmaker got one more start during the year, against Ireland in Dublin, where he piloted the side to a 23-13 win and took the man-of-the-match award.
Dagg praised McKenzie’s play down the stretch as an impact player and said he’d done enough, but questioned why England flyhalf Marcus Smith wasn’t picked.
“I thought D-Mac towards the end of the season, played well,” Dagg said on Sport Nation’s Scotty & Izzy show.
“You know, his position, his role, his impact off the bench, you know, warranted his probably inclusion into that world 15 Dream Team of the Year.
“But what happened to Marcus Smith? Marcus Smith, very good 10, I feel, in a struggling English side.”
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England’s flyhalf starred during the Autumn Nations Series but three losses to New Zealand, Australia and South Africa put a damper on England’s November.
Dagg believe that the 25-year-old “single handedly carried” the England team through the month.
“But I think from what I’ve seen and watching Marcus closely over the last five weeks, I think he’s been outstanding in a disappointing English side.
“He’s pretty much single handedly carried that team to close the victory multiple occasions.
“Yeah, so look, I think there’s a fair debate there, but well done to Damien and well done to will Jordan, Tyrell, Lomax as well, included in that squad.”
In the McKenzie vs Smith debate in 2024, the Kiwi has the advantage having led the All Blacks to a 3-0 sweep over England.
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Smith’s wayward boot in Dunedin cost a potential victory while a try assist and two second half penalties lifted the All Blacks to a 16-15 win.
The following week in Auckland Smith produced a couple of try assists while McKenzie sparked the All Blacks attack with multiple line break assists.
The All Blacks won 24-17, before a rematch in November at Twickenham. McKenzie produced a clutch sideline conversion to lift New Zealand to a 24-22 victory after Marcus Smith was taken off in the final stages for George Ford.
Go behind the scenes of both camps during the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa in 2021. Binge watch exclusively on RugbyPass TV now
Single handedly carried us to a strong of defeats. His costly misses with the boot, and lack of pragmatism in some close games count against him
Please let the Dmac,Tj,Cane and Reiko nightmare be over, we need better selections.
Smith is a handful and impressed, McKenzie definitely got better but it's no surprise Beauden ended the season as the starter.
Razor has wanted mounga from the get go . Dmac was always gona get a go but not enough to cement his position . Razor didn’t fix the front row for dmac . He fixed it so when mounga comes back , everything will be ready for him …
Its Fosters front row anyway. Razor hasnt fixed anything and neither will Mounga.
I heard Markus S didnt play many tests at 10 for England this year. The 10 duties were shared between Him, Fort and a 3rd 10.
Fin Smith, plays for Northampton. There is enormous press hype here around Marcus Smith, and his ridiculously kitted club mates, whereas Fin is a very very good ten, and a far safer pair of hands in a close game on crap conditions IMO
Smith didn't have a wayward boot in Dunedin. He was inexplicably subbed off in the 2nd half with a 100% strike rate and plenty of gas left in the tank. I don't like when we win like that.
He's got a point. Sure, dmac had his moments but there was a reason he was benched for the last couple of games...
Yeah, he's playing in France immediately after this so was saved up.
After a MOM performance v Ireland the only reason he was benched v France was the coaches weird selection policy.
Ohh, it's Izzy, was expecting DC. Meh!
I thought Justin Marshal the minute I saw the headline. lol.