Mighty Atom’s dad calls it even odds

All the smart money says the ‘‘Mighty Atom’’, Damian McKenzie, will be named in the All Blacks today.

But his old man is hedging his bets. Brent McKenzie, a former Southland and Junior All Blacks fullback, thinks Damian has a ‘‘fifty-fifty’’ chance of making Steve Hansen’s team.

The 21-year-old Chiefs fullback has been in blistering form this Super Rugby season, but Brent reckons Hansen might think it’s too soon to promote him.

‘‘It’s just a matter of where the selectors see him at this stage, whether he needs a bit more time or whether they want to get him into the environment and give him a wee bit of an experience.’’

But if Damian doesn’t make the squad, the sky won’t fall in. Brent thinks his son has plenty of good rugby ahead. ‘‘He’s well-rounded and he’s got plenty of time. He’ll be hoping his name gets read out tomorrow, which is only natural, but as I say I don’t think he’d be devastated if it wasn’t.’’

Damian and brother Marty, who plays for the Crusaders, grew up on the family farm near Gore.

Damian showed natural ability from an early age, but the teams he played for at Christ’s College in Christchurch frequently got their ‘‘backsides kicked’’.

It’s possible those losses helped him develop a mental fortitude that would serve him well as an All Black. Brent thinks his son is well equipped to deal with the pressure.

‘‘Coming through school rugby and that sort of thing, you can play for a team that absolutely dominates everybody. He certainly didn’t have that scenario. But he learned good things when he was coming through College, and I think it’s stood for him.

‘‘I think he’s got time on his side and if he can just keep playing good rugby and learn the processes and everything like that, at some stage, I think he might tick the box.’’