Damian Mckenzie

Unco

It may only be five games into the season but the improvements he's made to his game since his shakey first season last year are fucking astonishing. Last year he tried to run everything and when nothing was on, he'd do something dumb and hope it miraculously came off. This year he's cut out all the dumb shit and is perfectly happy to run the ball up or kick it into the corners if he has to. He's a much smarter and more accurate player than he was just last year.
 
Don't get me wrong, I don't think he's going to suddenly be a regular starter this year, but I do think he'll be given a few runs like a lot of the young guys were back in 2012 (Cane, BBBR, Coles, A Smith, Savea and TKB).

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="567828" data-time="1459137024">
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It may only be five games into the season but the improvements he's made to his game since his shakey first season last year are fucking astonishing. Last year he tried to run everything and when nothing was on, he'd do something dumb and hope it miraculously came off. This year he's cut out all the dumb shit and is perfectly happy to run the ball up or kick it into the corners if he has to. He's a much smarter and more accurate player than he was just last year.
 
Don't get me wrong, I don't think he's going to suddenly be a regular starter this year, but I do think he'll be given a few runs like a lot of the young guys were back in 2012 (Cane, BBBR, Coles, A Smith, Savea and TKB).
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Barrett too.

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cantab79" data-cid="567822" data-time="1459136727">
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Oh I enjoy doing that too. I also enjoy discussing reasons why a player might miss out on selection as well.
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and thats part of discussing people around AB selections...player a might be doing great, but might miss out as player b fits in better....

bobily

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cantab79" data-cid="567819" data-time="1459136611">
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Whilst your point about Hansen is a valid one, I don't remember McKenzie being discussed as a potential AB last year at all, although I am happy to be proven wrong if people were advocating for him. So what's changed since then? 5 Super Rugby games.
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I think people were talking about him being a future AB while he was still at high school. No one was really expecting him to make last years squad, but he was still seen as a player that would in the future, at least in my mind.

booboo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cantab79" data-cid="567819" data-time="1459136611">
Whilst your point about Hansen is a valid one, I don't remember McKenzie being discussed as a potential AB last year at all, although I am happy to be proven wrong if people were advocating for him. So what's changed since then? 5 Super Rugby games.</blockquote>
 
You're wrong. Plenty people been talking about him as a potential AB for years... 
Ok, I assume you mean not much mention of him making the 2015 team at that stage. And yes you are correct not too much pushing for him then. (Although i do seem to recall some crackpot talkback callers on the back of DC's "poor form" ...) 
There have been an ADDITIONAL 5 Super rugby games (on top of an NPC/ITM Cup), and the retirement/unavailability of two incumbent 10s. So he moves up the pecking order. 
He's in the conversation... 
...whether he's from Canterbury or not

Crucial

I was going to say he probably wants to forget his handful of years among the inbreds of the plains but then he is from Matuara so going from there to Chch to Hamilton has been a gradual progression through the evolutionary scale.
 
 
(and he still has a way to go)

kiwiinmelb

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cantab79" data-cid="567807" data-time="1459132301">
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I guess the reason I am struggling to take the calls for McKenzie to be included in the June tests seriously is that they are based on five games of SR form. No-one was calling for Damian to be included in the All Blacks for the RWC which means that he's effectively being labelled an All Black after five SR games. Don't get me wrong I think he's a prodigious talent who hopefully has a long representative career ahead of him, but it seems like every year a young player finds a rich vein of early season form and suddenly people are demanding for the All Black team to be shuffled around so that room can be found for them. As a five eighth, and I don't think he's anywhere close to overtaking players like Cruden and Sopoaga. As a fullback no-one on the planet is close to Ben Smith. And as a utility 10/15 bench option I think Beaudan Barrett has done a spectacular job filling that role for the ABs over the past 24 months and deserves all rights of incumbency. Whilst I can completely understand why people are excited about McKenzie's early season form I don't believe there is any rush to get him into the All Blacks. If he is to take the next step with his career and become an All Black then I believe he needs to make a compelling case by outplaying one of the incumbents over a substantial period of time. And I don't think he has come close to doing that yet.
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I think some are looking at him as a possibility to be a squad member and or we are a right winger down with no one really putting there hand up yet , there is the option of ben smith playing there and selecting another fullback.

kiwiinmelb

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="567823" data-time="1459136768">
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NMS was in the discussion from a few Super games last year ....
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and Naholo and Piatau the year before , Hanson has shown he is not afraid to select a bolter

Wurzel

He's no Nelson Asofa-Solomona but I'd give him 15 minutes in the third Test against the Welsh.

hydro11

When you are playing as well as McKenzie is, then you waltz into the All Blacks. He just picks himself. You can't leave someone that good out of the squad. It is the same thing with Ardie. We have no clue what his best role in the team is but you just can't leave him out at this point. Still a lot of time left in the season.

Wurzel

I liked the last six years when we knew exactly who the 23 would be, give or take a few injury surprises. But this next 18 months is gonna be mental on the forums.

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="567821" data-time="1459136716">
Also, DMac is a creative player, IIRC Blair was more of a runner, kind of a B grade Cullen..</blockquote>
 
A b-grade runner with the most accurate boot in the country ðŸ˜‰ 
But I still haven't forgiven him for that final in Canberra.

antipodean

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="567867" data-time="1459143892">I think some are looking at him as a possibility to be a squad member and or we are a right winger down with no one really putting there hand up yet</blockquote> Naholo will be back for the June tour. No one in their right mind is looking for a 4'8" winger who weighs less than most school kids.

ACT Crusader

A poor man's Ben Blair......

Milk

Hansen is picking him, as far as I'm concerned after listening to that interview. Maybe just a squad player for now, but I definitely got a 'just trying to figure out what to do with him' vibe.
 
He'd have a helluva time trying to get that utility jersey of Barrett though. I don't think we've ever seen such a consistent high impact player. Barrett won't be happy with that bench spot forever though.

kiwiinmelb

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="567886" data-time="1459151137">
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Naholo will be back for the June tour. No one in their right mind is looking for a 4'8" winger who weighs less than most school kids.
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smith on the wing with another fullback had been the talk if no naholo

antipodean

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="567926" data-time="1459185748">smith on the wing with another fullback had been the talk if no naholo</blockquote> And that's most likely. The fullback would be the interesting question. Certainly not Visinia who has no idea where to stand as a fullback. If you can't cement a starting sport you won't be getting anywhere so that rules out the current Crusaders options which leaves us with Marshall who is playing well for the Canes and McKenzie. Personally I'd select Beauden.

ACT Crusader

If Dagg, Naholo, NMS aren't available then I would also start Barrett. Then its a decision between one of the specialist 10s (Cruden or Lima) or a guy like D Mac for the bench.

Toddy

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="567821" data-time="1459136716">
Also, DMac is a creative player, IIRC Blair was more of a runner, kind of a B grade Cullen. </blockquote>
 
More like Orene Ai'i then?

kiwiinmelb

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="568028" data-time="1459215252">
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If Dagg, Naholo, NMS aren't available then I would also start Barrett. Then its a decision between one of the specialist 10s (Cruden or Lima) or a guy like D Mac for the bench.
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And that is a proven combination now , just depends how much they like saving barrett for the finishing role

The Silver Fern

Damian Mckenzie