All Blacks: Damian McKenzie set to return at fly-half as Scott Robertson confirms bad news from England win
Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett in action against England at Twickenham in 2024.
Damian McKenzie looks set to take the reins at fly-half for the clash against Ireland after Beauden Barrett suffered a head injury on Saturday.
The 33-year-old has started two of the past three encounters in the pivot position against the Wallabies and England, impressing in both as they claimed 33-13 and 24-22 victories respectively.
Barrett has usurped McKenzie, who began the year as the first choice number 10 and was in the XV for the opening eight matches of the season.
However, he was dropped to the bench towards the end of the Rugby Championship, with the All Blacks centurion taking over.
Failing his HIA
Following his display at Twickenham, Barrett would have likely retained his place if fit but, after failing a HIA following his departure from the field in the 67th minute, head coach Scott Robertson confirmed he will miss the huge encounter against Ireland.
Due to the return-to-play protocols, the playmaker will not be ready in time to face Andy Farrell’s men at the Aviva Stadium.
It is a blow for New Zealand, with the two-time World Rugby Player of the Year looking settled in the role, but it should now give another opportunity for McKenzie.
“He’s pretty laid back, DMac, he’ll take whatever role is required. He’s had the keys for a period of time and he’s got them back in his hands now,” Robertson told reporters.
Harry Plummer, Stephen Perofeta and Ruben Love are other possible options, but it is highly unlikely that they will be trusted in a game of this magnitude.
Perofeta and Love were both named in the wider squad for the Autumn Nations Series while Plummer, who featured briefly in the Rugby Championship, was chosen in the All Blacks XV group.
The Blues star started for the second-string outfit against Munster as they claimed a 38-24 triumph at Thomond Park, but he could be called up given that the All Blacks play in Dublin next Friday.
Other concerns
Barrett is not the only absentee for the game against Ireland with Codie Taylor also suffering a head injury in the 24-22 victory over England.
Taylor was replaced by Asafo Aumua early on and, like his team-mate, he will not recover in time for the repeat of last year’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final.
That means Aumua is set to start next weekend with the inexperienced George Bell due to be added to the replacements.
“Codie’s a world class hooker, among the best two or three in the world, and in great form,” Robertson said.
“Beauden was conducting the game pretty well, we thought, until the bang.
“They’ll be missed obviously but they’ll be around giving their wisdom and preparing the rest of the players.”
The head coach added: “Asafo, it was a great moment for him. He’d worked really hard to make sure that when he got an opportunity like that, he took it.”
Behind the front-row, Robertson could equally have a decision to make a lock after Tupou Vaa’i limped off a minute into the second period.
The head coach is optimistic over Vaa’i’s chances of making the Ireland match but his replacement, Patrick Tuipulotu, was absolutely outstanding off the bench.
Tuipulotu could have well played himself into the XV irrespective of whether the 24-year-old makes it for the big Dublin encounter.
