Will-o’-the-wisp McKenzie needs to rein in thrillseeker tendency
On and off the field, Damian McKenzie is a thrillseeker.
Behind the wheel, on the foreign side of the road, many New Zealanders would be daunted confronting the no rules madness that is the Arc de Triomphe roundabout in central Paris.
Navigating a safe path amid the free-for-all chaos is no easy feat yet McKenzie and a group of All Blacks had a crack on a bike yesterday.
They emerged unscathed, but in many ways this day-off excursion reflects McKenzie’s playing style. Nine times out of 10, no matter where on the field or what is in front of him, his natural instinct is to have a go. Eight times out of 10 he pulls it off, too.
That’s fine for Super Rugby, where there’s more freedom to move and missed opportunities or wrong decisions aren’t as costly. Test rugby, though, requires a more balanced approach.
And to date, McKenzie hasn’t nailed that brief since stepping in for Ben Smith and Jordie Barrett at fullback.
“He’s learning how to play test rugby and test rugby is not like Super Rugby where you can just do audacious things that you can get away with,” All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said. “The opposition is a lot sharper; a lot more tuned into making sure their defences are connected.”
That’s the biggest lesson McKenzie absorbed from his ninth test, and first loss, for the All Blacks against the Wallabies; the need to pick his moments, improve decision-making and to find the right risk-reward balance.
“It took a while to sink in and get
over that loss,” McKenzie said. “Coming off a loss you want to get straight back out there and prove yourself again. It has been a long three-week wait but I’m excited for this weekend.
“It was probably a good learning for me and what it’s like at test level and how I need to improve to better myself for games ahead.”
Positionally at least, McKenzie is in a something of a holding pattern. He’s likely to start the final three tests of the year at fullback, only to then switch to first five-eighth for the Chiefs next season.
Short term he will probably be used as a livewire test utility. Long term, the All Blacks see him growing into first-five.
“We’ll see him at 10 all next year in Super Rugby [ with the Chiefs] which is going to be exciting because in my own heart of hearts I think that is where he’ll end up playing his rugby,” Hansen said.
It’s a role he was thrust into in Brisbane; asked to close out that test after replacing Lima Sopoaga who endured similar struggles. While a supreme age-grade talent at No 10, McKenzie’s performance there against the Wallabies revealed just how much is needed to further his development.
“I haven’t played a lot of 10. I moved there in the latter part of the Brisbane game. For me, at the moment, it’s about focusing on 15 and throughout the week and having in the back of my mind that I might be needed there later in the game.
“It’s a similar skill set to 10. The difference at 10 is you are controlling and running the team so you’re calling the shots and you’re one more line ahead in the defence. It’s about time in the saddle at 10.”