McKenzie set for biggest game
Rugby: With a twinkle in his eye, a grin as wide as his sidestep, and pace and skill to kill, Damian McKenzie has taken Super Rugby by storm this year, and is now gearing up for the biggest game of his career in Saturday night’s Super Rugby semifinal against the Hurricanes in Wellington.
The 21-year-old dynamo has been the architect of so many Chiefs attacks this year, featuring so brilliantly in their up-tempo game, among the competition’s best in several stats categories, and is coming off a man-of-thematch 25-point haul in the quarterfinal win over the Stormers in Cape Town.
Such is his importance to the Chiefs, McKenzie has remarkably played every minute of his side’s campaign, with the only player to notch that feat being Cheetahs winger Raymond Rhule.
After debuting last season, McKenzie featured in all but one of the Chiefs’ matches - but at fullback, first-five and on the bench. This year he has made a home for himself at the back. His excellent form earned him an All Blacks callup, and after not getting a debut against Wales, this weekend’s match will be the grandest stage he has yet graced.
‘‘Obviously we got knocked out in the quarters last year, so first time in a Super Rugby semifinal, so it’ll be a massive occasion, probably a sellout crowd in Wellington,’’ McKenzie said.
Added pressure comes with the bigger games, but this is a man who doesn’t seem fazed by the occasion. His trademark grin when lining up goalkicks is one method he uses of smiling the pressure directly in the face. And last weekend against the Stormers, after long travel, and in a sudden death game, McKenzie was in his element, setting up tries, scoring one himself, and landing nine from 10 off the tee.
He said the key was just trying to ‘‘not to over-think the moment’’ and ‘‘just try and play your normal game’’.
‘‘I think that’s what most of the boys went out there and tried to do,’’ McKenzie said, as he downplayed his superb performance and fed credit to the big men.
‘‘It was an awesome feeling after the game, obviously a great team effort from all the lads - forwards playing some great footy and then the backs were lucky enough to finish off some of the work from the forwards.’’
McKenzie labelled Saturday night’s semifinal as a big challenge, but one the team was really looking forward to, against a Hurricanes team which are now considered competition favourites.
‘‘They’ve been impressive the last few weeks, obviously beating the Crusaders then beating the Sharks as well, so obviously a bit of momentum for them,’’ McKenzie said. ‘‘But hopefully we can go down there and stop it this weekend, it’d be nice.’’