Chiefs rest star back from Crusaders clash
Star first-five Damian McKenzie will be rested from the Chiefs’ Good Friday Super Rugby Pacific clash against the Crusaders.
In an eyebrow-raising move, which will no doubt have the beleaguered 0-5 Crusaders breathing one big sigh of relief, Clayton McMillan has opted to hand his highly influential playmaker his first All Blacks rest week and sit him out of the round six clash in Christchurch, though the coach claims it has nothing to do with the struggles of the red-and-blacks.
All Blacks are required to skip at least two games during the Super season, while players on All Blacks rest weeks are only meant to be in their team environments of their own accord.
McKenzie was present, but not taking part, in Chiefs training in Hamilton yesterday, and did not look injured.
McMillan later confirmed to Stuff that the 40-test All Black would indeed be missing Friday’s game, as part of a predetermined rest strategy for the 28-year-old.
“We had always planned on Damian getting through the first four or five games before he needed a rest, as per the protocols,” McMillan said.
“It’s got nothing to do with the Crusaders and how they are tracking at the moment. That didn’t even factor into our thinking. It just either had to be last week or this week.
“He’s had a niggly knee ... it’s nothing serious, it’s just something that’s been a bit of a niggle at the start of last week. That’s why we contemplated him resting [against the Highlanders], but he came good. But it’s just a timely reminder, instead of pushing it another week to a point where something that’s minor could turn into something a little bit more serious.
“If Damian had been 100% fit, it might have been an easier decision to extend him another week, but he’s not, so we won’t risk him.”
All Blacks rest weeks have generally come in the non-derby fixtures, though the Chiefs have this year had a strategy of spreading them out, with Tupou Vaa’i missing round four against the Fijian Drua, then Samisoni Taukei’aho last weekend against the Highlanders.
But McKenzie’s absence is another case entirely.
As the highest points scorer in their history, and top of the competition charts last year, his importance to the Chiefs cannot be overstated, with his electric attacking abilities now mixed with much-improved game management.
Try these numbers for size. With McKenzie on the park this season, the Chiefs are on the right side of a combined 166-83 scoreline. With him off the park, they are down 33-6.
Last year McKenzie missed just one game − the final-round 43-19 win over the Force in Perth, which had nothing riding on it for the already confirmed top seeds. He was also meant to sit out the round four home game against the Rebels, though was a late addition to the bench when Josh Ioane was scratched for personal reasons, and ended up playing the final 10 minutes of the 44-25 win.