Where will Damian McKenzie lace up in 2023?
The star Chiefs playmaker returned to New Zealand after a sabbatical in Japan midway through last year and while he was unable to force his way back into the All Blacks, he made a statement for both the All Blacks XV and Barbarians upon return.
Two slick pre-season outings against Moana Pasifika and the Blues saw McKenzie back to his deceptive best while playing at both first receiver and fullback.
However, with a huge Super season ahead and the Rugby World Cup fast approaching, it remains to be seen whether McKenzie will play at his preferred position of five-eighth or whether coach Clayton McMillan slots him in at the back.
While the 27-year-old is adept at both, former Chiefs and All Blacks fly-half Stephen Donald hopes McKenzie gets his opportunity at 10.
“I hope it’s at 10, I really do,” Donald told SENZ The Run Home.
“I think for the Chiefs to win the title, he needs to be their main man, so I hope it’s at 10.”
While McKenzie is certain to make the Chiefs’ starting line-up each week, his prospects in the national side are less clear.
Richie Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett cemented themselves as the first and second-choice five-eighths while Stephen Perofeta’s breakthrough Super season saw him snatch the third available position.
Should McKenzie return to the mix, he will likely be in direct competition with Perofeta and Will Jordan, who plays both on the wing and at the back.
“To me, it’s not in doubt, he’ll be going to the World Cup. He’ll be in the All Blacks’ squad without a shadow of a doubt,” he added.
“Probably at the expense of Perofeta I’d imagine, I don’t think there’s room for both of them in a 32-man squad for a World Cup.
“I just don’t see how you could take both of them doing a similar job.
“But no for me, Damian McKenzie goes to the World Cup and for Chiefs fans … I certainly hope that he’ll be wearing the No.10 jersey this year for the boys from the Tron.”
Following their two pre-season wins, the Chiefs will head to Christchurch to take on the title-holder Crusaders on Friday night to kick off Super Rugby Pacific 2023 at Orangetheory Stadium.
