McKenzie makes case for No 10 spot

Christopher Reive

Damian McKenzie wants to play at No 10. Be it for the Chiefs or All Blacks, the 22-year-old has his sights on first five-eighths.

With Lima Sopoaga leaving New Zealand at the end of the season, the door is open for someone such as McKenzie to claim the back-up firstfive role with the national squad, with the 2018 Super Rugby campaign acting as a trial of sorts.

While injuries to the Chiefs had seen McKenzie spend most of the season at fullback, he got his chance at No 10 against the Sunwolves on Saturday and took it.

A couple of tries and as many assists, a strong performance with the boot on and off the tee and smart use of his evasiveness and speed with ball in hand showed McKenzie can be a first-choice playmaker.

But against the bottom side in the competition, some may be skeptical as to whether he can reproduce or maintain that form. It’s a fair question, but the Sunwolves are an improved team with former Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph at the helm, taking the Lions to the limit a week earlier. They provide a better measuring post than many give them credit for.

Remember the last time the Rebels met the Hurricanes? March 4, 2017: The Hurricanes ran riot, scoring 11 tries to none in a 71-6 thrashing of the Melbourne team.

A little over a year later, the sides will meet again, albeit seemingly without the same gulf in class.

This time, the Rebels have something to prove. They are top of the table with a 4-1 record but have not yet faced a New Zealand team.

The Hurricanes will be their first this season, playing in Melbourne on Friday. If the Rebels wanted to test themselves, they’ve got the right team to do so. After starting with a loss, the Canes have won four in a row, but may be without loose forward Ardie Savea who copped a rib injury against the Dunedin side.

Spare a thought for the Blues. At the weekend, the Auckland team confirmed star midfielder Sonny Bill Williams would miss six to eight weeks of action due to a fractured wrist suffered in their loss to the Stormers a week earlier. The Blues had the bye last weekend and still suffered a loss.

Williams was starting to form a quality midfield combination with Rieko Ioane. However, coach Tana Umaga is now forced back to the drawing board as he looks to turn around his side’s poor start. Travis Ismaiel, Marco Gerhardt van Staden tries; Handre Pollard 2 cons Will Genia, Ross Haylett-Petty, Amanaki Mafi, Bill Meakes, Anaru Rangi, Fereti Sa’aga tries; Jack Debreczeni 4, Reece Hodge cons; Debreczeni, Hodge pens Marius Louw, Lwazi Mvovo tries; Curwin Bosch, Robert du Preez cons Solomon Alaimalo 2, Damian McKenzie 2, Tyler Ardron, Nathan Harris, Liam Polwart, Brodie Retallick, Sean Wainui tries; McKenzie 8 cons Semisi Masirewa, Hosea Saumaki tries Ben Lam 2, Vince Aso, Beauden Barrett tries; B Barrett 3 cons; Jordie Barrett pen Waisake Naholo 2 tries; Lima Sopoaga con)