Damian Mckenzie
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cantab79" data-cid="567819" data-time="1459136611">
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>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.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cantab79" data-cid="567819" data-time="1459136611"><p>
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.</p></blockquote>
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You're wrong. Plenty people been talking about him as a potential AB for years...<br><br>
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" ...)<br><br>
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.<br><br>
He's in the conversation...<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>
...whether he's from Canterbury or not
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>(and he still has a way to go)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cantab79" data-cid="567807" data-time="1459132301">
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>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. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="567823" data-time="1459136768">
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<p>NMS was in the discussion from a few Super games last year ....</p>
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<p>and Naholo and Piatau the year before , Hanson has shown he is not afraid to select a bolter </p> -
<p>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.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="567821" data-time="1459136716"><p>
Also, DMac is a creative player, IIRC Blair was more of a runner, kind of a B grade Cullen..</p></blockquote>
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A b-grade runner with the most accurate boot in the country 😉<br><br>
But I still haven't forgiven him for that final in Canberra. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="567867" data-time="1459143892"><p>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</p></blockquote><br>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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A poor man's Ben Blair......
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>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.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="567886" data-time="1459151137">
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>smith on the wing with another fullback had been the talk if no naholo</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="567926" data-time="1459185748"><p>smith on the wing with another fullback had been the talk if no naholo</p></blockquote><br>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.<br><br>Personally I'd select Beauden.
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<p>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.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="568028" data-time="1459215252">
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>And that is a proven combination now , just depends how much they like saving barrett for the finishing role </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Toddy" data-cid="568042" data-time="1459217152">
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<p>More like Orene Ai'i then?</p>
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<p>Sheesh, who would have thought Blair would have had so many knights out there?</p>
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<p>I must admit though I do feel sorry for him when ever I watch highlights of that final ... I'd want to string him up if it was my team though.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="568125" data-time="1459233369">
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<p>Sheesh, who would have thought Blair would have had so many knights out there?</p>
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<p>I must admit though I do feel sorry for him when ever I watch highlights of that final ... I'd want to string him up if it was my team though.</p>
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<p>The 2002 test vs England was another personal lowlight for Blair when he got bundled into touch at the end.</p> -
<p>I did a quick google to find out what happened to Blair. Sad to see that knee problems got the better of him and he had to retire from rugby a bit prematurely.</p>
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<p>I also saw this... </p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='
