McKenzie sidesteps H word
Damian McKenzie’s burning desire to win on Sunday doesn’t equate to him having a hatred for the Crusaders.
While ex-All Blacks and Crusaders fullback Israel Dagg, now a TV pundit, recently told Sky Sports UK that opposition players ‘‘absolutely hate’’ the 10-time Super Rugby champions, Chiefs fullback McKenzie wasn’t prepared to use such emotive language ahead of the Super Rugby Aotearoa match in Christchurch.
‘‘I don’t think it is a hate thing,’’ McKenzie said. ‘‘The Crusaders have won it for the last three years . . . so some people don’t like them. But it is not a hatred thing. It is more just, I guess, that competitiveness.
‘‘We are all mates on and off the field. On it we play our hearts out, and off it it is awesome when we all come into the sheds after the game and we can catch up.’’
The Chiefs are desperate for a victory at Orangetheory Stadium; a defeat will leave them win-less after three rounds, anchoring them at the bottom of the competition table.
At least assistant coach Neil Barnes offered some bright news. Captain and openside flanker Sam Cane, who has yet to play in the domestic tournament because of a lower back problem, could return if not feeling any discomfort after training yesterday.
Lock Mitchell Brown could also be back to replace Tupou Vaa’i, who has been unwell and will be given a spell. The team is named tomorrow.
Dagg said he had learned from conversations with players from other teams that they ‘‘absolutely hate the Crusaders’’.
‘‘They never say why, but they just hate them with a passion,’’ Dagg told Sky Sports UK. ‘‘People
Damian McKenzie, left, with Tom Sanders of the Crusaders, on facing the southern powerhouse
have something against them, so they will come out full guns blazing.’’
McKenzie, who was born and raised in Southland and attended private boys school Christ’s College in Christchurch as a teenager, expects there to be plenty of heat in the game on Sunday but couldn’t bring himself
to say the H-word about people he considers friends.
‘‘Every week is difficult against the New Zealand teams. We are just competitive blokes who want to get the best out of each other.’’
Barnes was blunt when reflecting on defeats to the Highlanders and Blues, noting the Chiefs were angry about the amount of errors they were making.
‘‘It’s not like we have to reinvent the wheel,’’ Barnes said. ‘‘But we are pretty p...ed off with ourselves for letting the opportunities go, that we had. So, yeah, we expect a response.’’
McKenzie, who played the last of his 23 tests for the All Blacks in November 2018 because a serious knee injury ruined his chances of being picked for last year’s World Cup, was more diplomatic but refused to blame the referees’ fresh breakdown interpretations for the Chiefs’ defeats.
Gatland, recently voted the greatest ever coach by UK-based
World Rugby magazine, will be desperate for a victory and Barnes hinted strong words had been delivered as the Chiefs try to snap the Crusaders’ 34-match unbeaten streak at home.
‘‘We are annoyed,’’ Barnes said. ‘‘We had a pretty frank conversation yesterday in our review of what needs to be done.’’
So, the pressure is on. But McKenzie denied that had deflated the mood in the squad.
‘‘It has been great, mate. It would be more disappointing if we weren’t creating opportunities.
‘‘But we are. We just have to be a bit more clinical.’’
‘‘It is not a hatred thing. It is more just, I guess, that competitiveness.’’