Damian McKenzie’s frank admission on All Blacks form as he reveals 2025 ambitions
Damian McKenzie in action for the Chiefs and All Blacks.
New Zealand playmaker Damian McKenzie is determined to kick on at fly-half in the international arena in 2025 after he was the All Blacks’ first choice number 10 for most of their Tests in 2024.
While many All Blacks supporters will feel that the jury is still out on McKenzie’s performances at number 10, All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson backed him in that role for most of 2024.
McKenzie enjoyed a run of eight consecutive matches as the All Blacks‘ starting fly-half and was eventually involved in all 14 of his country’s Tests during the year.
The 29-year-old’s biggest competition for the All Blacks’ playmaker jersey is Beauden Barrett, who finished 2024 as the All Blacks’ first choice fly-half, although McKenzie was named as the number 10 in the World Rugby Men’s 15s Dream Team of the Year.
Frank admission on All Blacks form
McKenzie admits that he managed to hold onto the All Blacks fly-half berth despite not always being at his best but is hoping to grow from his experience in the role.
“There were games where I didn’t play my best rugby at all and still was able to retain the 10 jersey,” he told Stuff.
“For me, it was great to have that amount of time and to build that continuity and it’s put me in good stead for this year.
“There’s a lot of stuff in Test rugby that’s a lot different to Super Rugby.”
During New Zealand’s end-of-year tour to Japan and Europe, McKenzie started the first Test against the Brave Blossoms – when most of the All Blacks’ star players were rested – before Barrett was preferred as the starting fly-half for their clash with England at Twickenham.
Despite guiding his team to a narrow 24-22 victory over the Red Rose, Barrett sustained a head knock in that encounter which ruled him out of the highly anticipated clash with Ireland the following week.
That meant McKenzie was back in the number 10 jersey and although there was plenty of pressure on him, he impressed with excellent game management as he guided his team to a deserved 23-13 triumph.
He admitted that he was delighted with his all-round performance in that fixture.
“I think it was probably one of my biggest Tests of the year, in terms of leading as a 10 and putting the ball in front of our forwards,” he said.
Game management is always highlighted as an important attribute of any fly-half and when asked to expand on it, McKenzie said: “It’s recognising the flow of the game, really.
“If we don’t have momentum, how do we get momentum back?
“Whether it’s through kicking, whether it’s through running, whether it’s through going more to our set-piece… making sure we’re putting the ball in front of the forwards, making their job easier.
“It was the part of my game which definitely needed to show the most improvement.
‘It’s definitely put me in good stead for this year’
“I was happy with the way it went in the Irish Test, but throughout the whole year, it’s definitely put me in good stead for this year – the amount of stuff I learned from those experiences at Test level.
“I’m obviously looking forward to implementing them in the Super season.”
McKenzie is hoping to guide the Chiefs to Super Rugby Pacific glory in 2025 after they finished as runners-up to the Crusaders in 2023 and the Blues in 2024.
“The last two seasons have been really good,” he said. “Obviously we’ve just fallen short at the last hurdle.
“It’s happened twice in a row, but hopefully not three times in a row.
“We’ve got a tough season ahead, but I’m pretty happy with the stock – the new guys coming through and the experience. I think we’re ready for another big season.”
