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Damian McKenzie labels young All Blacks hopeful a 'serious threat'
By Ned Lester
There’s a significant opportunity at halfback in 2024 for All Blacks hopefuls and no shortage of budding talent fighting for the honour of selection under new national coach Scott Robertson. Perhaps leading that charge amongst the uncapped youngsters is the Chiefs’ Cortez Ratima.
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The 23-year-old had been biding his time while under the mentorship – and shadow – of All Black Brad Weber since joining the Chiefs in 2022. But, with Weber’s departure for the bright lights and big contracts of the Top 14, Ratima has earned himself a promotion.
The starting spot wasn’t a given despite Ratima’s status as Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan’s preferred impact halfback in 2023, as fellow young gun Xavier Roe Returned from injury in time to be at full fitness for the 2024 campaign.
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Roe was even named to start in the Chiefs’ opening two games of the 2024 season before Ratima landed his first crack in the No. 9 jersey in round three’s loss to the Reds.
But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating and immense work rate on both sides of the ball, Ratima has solidified himself as the team’s premier halfback, and perhaps one of New Zealand’s.
The skillset of the All Blacks XV talent has impressed Chiefs teammate Damian McKenzie.
“Cortez is playing some great rugby, and I think we saw that last year as well when he got most of his opportunities off the bench behind Webby (Brad Weber),” McKenzie told SENZ’s The Run Home.
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“But he’s playing really well and he’s just growing in his stride every week. I think the thing with ‘Tez is he’s got an array of skills; defensively he’s really good and on attack, he’s a serious threat for us.
“I guess for ‘Tez, he’s in a position where he’s got nothing to lose, he just puts everything out there and I love the way he’s playing; he’s backing himself and it’s great to play outside him and get some great ball when I need it.
“He’s playing great, he’s a great kid, a hard worker, got his head on his shoulders.”
The aforementioned Roe is joined by three-time All Black Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi in keeping Ratima honest and maintaining pressure on his form as the starting halfback.
McKenzie added he hopes to see at least one of his teammates in a black jersey in the very near future.
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“Obviously, we’re pretty fortunate with the guys behind him as well, who are competing for the same position with Xavier (Roe) and Triple T (Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi). We’re very fortunate in that position.
“Hopefully, further down the track those boys get rewarded for the good seasons they’ve had.”
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “
Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him?
Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
NZ media and his hardcore fans have a thing for TJ, especially his “experience”.
And yet, you could count the number of good games he's had in black on one hand, with fingers to spare. And you wouldn't have enough body parts to count how many complete shockers he’s had, especially when starting.
I feel there’s a market for a company to publish data like this too for the shameless rugby nerds, will be interesting seeing what the coaches/selectors see rather than just relying on eye test and top line stats.