McKenzie to start at No 10
Chiefs look to get their attack firing
The Chiefs have shifted star playmaker Damian McKenzie to first five-eighth as they look to get their stuttering attack back on track in their Super Rugby TransTasman opener against the Western Force in Perth tomorrow night.
In naming their side yesterday, the Chiefs have handed McKenzie the No 10 jersey for the second time this season, which sees Bryn Gatland play from the bench and Chase Tiatia start at fullback.
That was the formation used for the final 35 minutes of last weekend’s Super Rugby Aotearoa decider loss to the Crusaders, and McKenzie has usually finished games in the pivot role this year, but the Chiefs are looking to defy their arduous travel schedule and shoot out of the blocks at HBF Park by getting their attacking whiz running the cutter.
Scoring tries has never usually been an issue for the Chiefs, and in pre-Covid Super Rugby last year they were indeed doing that just fine, however, since then, they have scored just 33 in 17 SRA matches.
Last year their 14 from eight games was nine short of the nextlowest sides – the Highlanders and Blues (the latter played one less game) – while this season their 19 from nine was six shy of the fourth-ranked Hurricanes (who also had a game less), the Chiefs having only once scored more than two in one game.
Assistant coach Roger Randle, who shoulders much of that attack responsibility being in charge of the backs, noted that his side had indeed often opted to take penalty goals instead during the Aotearoa season, but that that is likely to change in the fiveweek sprint of SRTT.
Tied teams will again be separated first by ‘most wins’, but it’s likely the second tiebreaker of points difference will be needed instead, while scoring three tries more than the opposition and nabbing the bonus point looms as crucial.
‘‘We were happy to take threes this year when we got the opportunities with the games so close,’’ Randle said from Perth. ‘‘And if you’ve seen the trends with a lot of the New Zealand teams, everyone started doing that as well towards the end.
‘‘For us, it’s still ultimately about trying to get a win first.
‘‘But definitely it’d be nice to cross the line a few more times.
‘‘We’re working hard. Obviously you’ve seen the clean breaks and everything else [the Chiefs were second on clean breaks on 83, behind the Crusaders’ 87, and first on defenders beaten with 212, 17 more than the Crusaders].
‘‘So we’re creating the opportunities, which excites us, but finishing off is something we’ve talked about, just getting some accuracy around that.
‘‘This competition we could kick for the sideline a bit more and exert a bit more pressure with ball in hand.
‘‘Bonus points could be pretty vital.’’
The Chiefs have made a few other tweaks to their team from the Aotearoa final, hoping some fresh legs can help them bounce back from their disappointment.
With Etene Nanai-Seturo now linking up with the All Blacks
Sevens for Olympics preparation, Shaun Stevenson comes into the side, on the right wing, with Jonah Lowe shifting to the left.
In the pack, former All Blacks hooker Nathan Harris gets his first start since 2019, with Samisoni Taukei’aho dropping to the bench for the first time this season.
There was a telegraphed change at lock, with coach Clayton McMillan revealing on Tuesday that both Naitoa Ah Kuoi and Mitchell Brown would miss the trip. Josh Lord will make his third start, with Zane Kapeli to play a ‘hybrid’ role off the bench alongside Liam Messam, who is set for a second outing following his return against the Blues a fortnight ago.
Along with hooker Bradley Slater, prop Sione Mafileo and midfielder Rameka Poihipi are the others in the 26-man touring squad to miss out, with Joe Apikotoa and Bailyn Sullivan preferred in the reserves.
Former All Blacks halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi was left out of the travelling party and will play club rugby this weekend, with Xavier Roe set for a third appearance.
Here’s hoping this competition isn’t a dud. The pressure is on the Aussie teams to perform in Super Rugby transTasman, because nothing makes New Zealand fans pinch their noses and run for the door faster than the prospect of another lop-sided result.
Watching Super Rugby Aotearoa each weekend was like being served up crayfish, salmon and juicy beef steaks, washed down by the finest French grog and fresh orange juice.
Anything less, now, will seem like sardines on toast. Coaches may have had their heads in hands when the walking wounded hobbled out of the doctor’s office each Monday morning, but SRA was an entertaining blockbuster.
While it would be unfair to expect the transTasman tournament to produce the same drama and excitement as SRA, it would be nice to tune in each weekend with a sense of anticipation.
Because that’s what sport is about. TransTasman, do your thing.
1 Clarke Dermody makes a rocky start to his tenure as Highlanders head coach.
The departure of Tony Brown, who will assist Jamie Joseph in preparing Japan to play the British and Irish Lions in Edinburgh next month, has meant Dermody was unexpectedly promoted to the top post last week.
Within days of replacing Brown, who will return in 2022, Dermody was forced to deal with his first drama after All Blacks blindside flanker Shannon Frizell was alleged to have assaulted a female at a bar last weekend.
Although Frizell has not been charged by police, Highlanders chief executive Roger Clarke said it was best the player, who he believed would be cleared of breaking the law, not play the Reds in Dunedin tonight until the issue had been sorted.
It’s a sensible call for all parties. But it’s a distraction Dermody could have done without.
2 Reds coach Brad Thorn makes multiple changes and the Tongan Thor, Taniela Tupou, is on the bench.
This isn’t a shock. The Reds’ win over the Brumbies, thanks to a try to James O’Connor in the 85th minute, in the SR Australia final in Brisbane was a ripper.
But it came at a cost. Ex-All Blacks lock Thorn may be a tough man, but he’s not silly. Injuries and sore bodies have forced him to juggle his selections.
Tighthead prop Tupou was immense against the Brumbies, right until the final bell.
The question is whether he can influence the result against the Highlanders. The home side could have this in the bag, before the big man leaves the bench.
3 Ngani Laumape won’t be sighted at the G.
Wellington-based journalists had to ask Hurricanes coach Jason Holland the obvious after he revealed midfielder Laumape won’t play the Waratahs at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Holland said All Black Laumape’s absence had nothing to do with him signing with French club Stade Francais, and he will be considered for the next game against the Rebels. No need for any conspiracy theories, said Holland. Fair enough. But the journos had to do their job.
4 Good riddance to the captain’s referral?
It has been ditched from this competition. That’s not a bad thing.
SRA was a great spectacle, but not because of the captain’s referral. It slowed the game down, and could be used for cynical reasons.
Rugby games need to speed up, not drop the anchor. Let’s not see it back.
5 Could it be an all-New Zealand final on June 19?
Too right. The New Zealand and Aussie teams are lumped together on a combined competition ladder, and play each other once.
After five rounds the two top-placed teams meet in the final. The Aussie teams are about to get a taste of Kiwi. The medicine may not taste sweet.