It may have taken Damian McKenzie a little while to get going in 2015, but the youngster is catching the eye of all around him once again.
The Waikato first-five is equal leading points scorer in the ITM Cup, New Zealand’s leading provincial championship and has come on in leaps-and-bounds with new found levels of confidence taken from his time with The Chiefs in Super Rugby. Chiefs coach Dave Rennie says off McKenzie “He is an exciting young talent with an outstanding skill set”.
In this years ITM Cup, McKenzie currently sits on 74 points after five weeks of competition and he has an impressive 82% success rate with the boot. McKenzie has scored two tries for Waikato thus far; one against Manawatu and the other a fine effort against Auckland.
Playing exclusively at first five for Waikato in his five starts thus far, McKenzie has been described as ‘fearless’ by many sports media commentators and his on-field bravery backs that up. A report in the Waikato Times last week suggested that McKenzie “smiles in the face of pressure”.
At 175 centremetres and weighing only just more than 80 kilograms, the fearless Damian McKenzie can slice through the smallest of gaps in defensive lines and invariably comes up against opponents much bigger than his size. McKenzie’s speed and quick footwork counters his physical shortcomings; his try against Auckland in particular showed his ability to turn on the pace suddenly, to punish sides that leave any area on the field unmanned.
Against Southland last Thursday night on their home ground, McKenzie created a counter attack from his own five-metre line, cutting through the middle of the park in an exhilarating move. Speeding past the majority of the Southland defense before sharing the ball to lock James Tucker, with a clear run to the try line.
In fact, had Tucker possessed the pace of McKenzie, Waikato might have scored their second spectacular try from deep during that match, such was the elusiveness in which young Damian is playing. Often finding himself outrunning his support, but over time he will improve in linking-up with his support players – as long as they are not ‘lumbering 120kg locks’as Tucker is.
McKenzie’s kicking accuracy has greatly improved as well, including a flawless kicking performance against Southland were he did not miss a single kick, something that has impressed co-captain Brad Weber who is close personally with Waikato’s first-five. “It’s bloody good to see him kicking goals, he is obviously doing something right and I am always the first to give him some stick if he isn’t slotting those points,” Weber joked (in a complimentary way that rugby players do)
McKenzie pays much of his improvement with the boot this season to Chiefs assistant coach Andrew Strawbridge. The youngster has also worked closely with a sports psychologist in recent times and has found successful methods to calm himself down when kicking from the tee. McKenzie says his smile just prior to kicking for goal is something a little different, but it has become a popular trademark of sorts for the 20-year old.
In Super Rugby, Damian was shuffled around between playing at first-five and fullback, in combination with his elder brother Marty and Chiefs player Andrew Hore, but has clearly thrived in the ITM Cup environment in his regular starting role at pivot. Elusive at his best, McKenzie has beaten 24 defenders and carried the ball into contact a massive 63 times – showing a clear desire and ability to back himself to have an impact on a game, as well as converting points on offer.
The youngster has also had a modest taste of International rugby, both for the Maori All Blacks and NZ Under 20’s side [he starred in the 2014 tournament] McKenzie won the New Zealand age group player of the year award at the 2014 Steinlager Rugby Awards, and looks set for more accolades.
For many, it is becoming clearer by the week that Damian McKenzie loves his rugby and likes to back himself in any situation. This first-five is fearless and continues to impress, and if his terrific run of form continues, perhaps something greater than helping the “Mooloo Men” from Waikato possibly win their first Provincial Rugby title in nine years will be on the horizon for fearless Damian McKenzie.
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