DMac torn in clash over his eligibility
All Blacks and Chiefs utility back Damian McKenzie has admitted he’s torn about the prospect of representing the North Island in the North v South game in August, saying his roots are with the south.
The North v South game has been confirmed for August 29 at Eden Park. John Plumtree and Scott McLeod will coach the North Island and Greg Feek and Brad Mooar will coach the South Island team, it was revealed on Sky TV’s The Breakdown.
Last week, All Blacks coach Ian Foster said players would be eligible for either the North or South Island side depending on which province they made their first-class debut for.
The eligibility ruling means the likes of Northland’s Jack Goodhue and Taranaki’s Scott and Jordie Barrett will instead play for the South Island, having made their provincial debuts for Canterbury, while Christchurch’s Anton Lienert-Brown and Gore’s Damian McKenzie will play for the North Island as they both first played for Waikato.
Appearing on The Breakdown, McKenzie was asked if he would want to play for the South Island.
“Absolutely. It’s a great concept. Great for the fans and great for the players. I’ve always been keen to bring back the North v South game. Obviously growing up in Southland, that’s where my roots are — and going to school in Christchurch.
“It would be nice to be eligible to play for the South Island squad but obviously [my] first provincial game was for Waikato so that’s the rules and the eligibility. If I was to play for either team I’m happy but it looks like my hand will be up for the North Island team,” he added.
The Breakdown co-host Sir John Kirwan said the rules should be changed.
“If you were brought up in the South Island and went to school in the South Island but play in the North, you should have the choice. If you’re born in the South Island and play in the South Island — no choice,” Kirwan said.
According to Foster, the game would effectively double as an All Blacks trial match.
The All Blacks are scheduled to play the Wallabies in a four-match Bledisloe Cup series, with the first test pencilled in for October 1.
“We will let Super Rugby play out, let’s enjoy that and then we’ll get into a North-South game,” Foster said last week.
“We might go a bit old-school and, after the North-South game, we have a media conference and announce the [All Blacks] team,” he added.
Meanwhile, the All Blacks’ end of year tour looks to be in major doubt with a new eight-team tournament reportedly being planned featuring the Six Nations teams, as well as guest countries Japan and Fiji, to be played in November.
The All Blacks were set to face England in London on November 7 followed by games against Wales and then Scotland but the coronavirus pandemic has cast doubt over scheduled rugby tours.
According to the UK Telegraph, Japan and Fiji are expected to join the Six Nations sides in a new eightteam tournament to be played in November and December.
A World Rugby council meeting to vote on allowing international rugby to continue, scheduled for yesterday, was postponed until the middle of next month.
However, the Telegraph reports “the most likely option” was the new eight-team tournament would replace the scheduled end-of-year games.
Obviously growing up in Southland, that’s where my roots are . . .
Damian McKenzie