Full name | Damian Sinclair McKenzie | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 20 April 1995 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Invercargill, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 177 cm (5 ft 10 in) [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 78 kg (172 lb; 12 st 4 lb) [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Christ's College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notable relative(s) | Marty McKenzie (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
|
Damian Sinclair McKenzie (born 20 April 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays fullback or First five-eighth for Waikato in the Bunnings NPC competition and Chiefs in super rugby. McKenzie has played 40 tests for New Zealand since his international debut in 2016.
McKenzie began his professional career playing for Waikato in the Bunnings NPC. McKenzie has also previously represented the Chiefs in Super Rugby, he is their all-time highest points scorer.
McKenzie was born in 1995 in Invercargill. He received his secondary education at Christ's College in Christchurch. [2]
McKenzie has received attention for his trademark smile before attempting a kick at goal.
Since the beginning of the 2015 season, McKenzie has been contracted to the Chiefs franchise who compete in the Super Rugby competition. [3] He has become a regular starter and is often in charge of goal kicking.
In 2016, McKenzie played every game in the Chiefs' starting line-up at fullback. He finished the 2016 Super Rugby season as the Chiefs top try-scorer and the overall second highest try-scorer with 10 tries, behind Waratahs outside-back Israel Folau. He also finished the season as the second highest point-scorer with 199 points (10 tries, 43 conversion goals and 21 penalty goals); behind Hurricanes First Five Eighth Beauden Barrett.
McKenzie ranked top of the charts for carries, metres and defenders beaten in the 2017 Super Rugby season, while also ranked in the top three for clean breaks and points scored. In 2018, Damian McKenzie was the SANZAAR Player of the Season for the third year running.[ citation needed ]
On 15 April 2019, McKenzie was diagnosed with a torn ACL suffered against the Blues at FMG Stadium Waikato in the Super Rugby competition. Due to the injury, McKenzie was not able to participate in the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
On 8 February 2020, Damian Mckenzie was named at fullback for the Chiefs in their 25-15 victory over the Crusaders after recovering from his ACL injury.
In 2020, Damian Mckenzie was chosen for the North Island to play in the North vs South rugby union match at Sky Stadium. Mckenzie kicked 100% off the boot, scoring 15 points, while also scoring a try and setting up another couple.
Damian Mckenzie kicked off 2021 with a hiss and a roar, scoring tries in the Chiefs opening games of their Super Rugby Aotearoa season against the Highlanders and the Crusaders. Mckenzie then put on an inspiring performance, playing away at Sky Stadium against the Hurricanes to end the Chiefs record-breaking 11 match losing streak dating back to pre Covid 19 lockdown. He then scored the winning try against the Blues in the last minute the following week, the Chiefs snatching the victory 12-8. Following the bye week, Mckenzie slotted a historical match winning penalty against the Higlanders - from around 50m, in the first ever golden point extra time in New Zealand rugby. [4] Again stealing the victory, winning 26-23 at Forsyth Barr Stadium. After three close wins, McKenzie then did it again. Knocking over the winning penalty in the dying minutes to beat the Crusaders (25-23) at home to a raucous crowd. He played at first five eight where he kicked at 100%, and out played incumbent All Blacks first-five, Richie Mo’unga. [5] The following week he kicked another game winning penalty in the 84th minute from 45 metres to beat the Hurricanes (26-24) at home. He moved back to fullback and kicked 6 from 7 and scored 16 of the Chiefs 26 points. [6] The Chiefs ended the regular season 2nd place and lost to the Crusaders in the Final. McKenzie finished 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa as the top points scorer with 111 points.
Damian McKenzie started at 10 in the Chiefs opening 2 games of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, beating the Western Force and The Brumbies. In the 22nd minute of their encounter with the Queensland Reds, McKenzie was red carded for a high shot on halfback, Tate McDermott. The Chiefs playmaker was struck with a 3 game suspension for his actions.
McKenzie signed with Tokyo Sungoliath in the Japan Rugby League One competition. [7] Tokyo Sungoliath finished runners up in the 2022 season after they lost 18-12 to Saitama Wild Knights in the final. He finished the season playing 14 matches and scoring 218 points which included 7 tries. Following the season McKenzie re-signed with New Zealand Rugby and the Chiefs. [8]
In his first season back with the Chiefs, McKenzie guided them to a 31-10 win over the Crusaders in Round One. In Round Five against the Waratahs, McKenzie played his 100th game for the Chiefs when he started at fullback. In a round 6 clash vs the Blues, McKenzie scored 10 points as the Chiefs won six out of six games before heading into their bye.
McKenzie represented New Zealand Under-20 during the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship scoring 1 try, 7 conversions and 2 penalties in 5 games. [9]
On 29 May 2016, McKenzie was named in New Zealand's 33-man All Blacks squad for the June Test series against Wales. [10] Although he was part of the All Blacks training camp, he did not play during the Test series due to winger Israel Dagg's return from injury.
McKenzie was initially excluded from the All Blacks' 33-man squad for the 2016 Rugby Championship but was called up as injury cover for winger Waisake Naholo following Naholo tearing a hamstring. On 1 October 2016, McKenzie made his international test debut coming off the bench as a replacement for Ryan Crotty in the 48th minute during New Zealand's 36-17 win over Argentina in the round 5 of the Rugby Championship. On the 2016 All Blacks Northern Hemisphere Tour and following the All Blacks' first ever defeat to Ireland, he made his starting debut in the starting 15 playing at fullback in the team's 68-10 win over Italy. McKenzie was not subbed off against Italy and played the full 80 minutes, with Israel Dagg subbed off in McKenzie's favour.
On 17 June 2017, McKenzie started for the Māori All Blacks at first-five-eighth against the touring British and Irish Lions in Rotorua. McKenzie played until the 67th minute when he was replaced by Ihaia West, with the Māori All Blacks losing to the tourists 10-32.
Despite an outstanding Super Rugby campaign with the Chiefs in 2017, McKenzie was not selected in the initial squad for the All Blacks for the Pasifika Challenge against Samoa and the three-test British and Irish Lions series, with the uncapped Hurricanes utility back Jordie Barrett being selected at McKenzie's expense. However, he was recalled to the team following Ben Smith's concussion in the first test. Despite being re-called, McKenzie did not manage to make the field in the black jersey against the Lions.
With Jordie Barrett ruled out for the rest of 2017 with shoulder surgery following the conclusion of Super Rugby and while Ben Smith took a sabbatical following the 35-29 victory over Australia on 26 August 2017, McKenzie received more game-time featuring at Fullback. The week prior which was a 54-34 win over the Australians saw McKenzie score his first try for the All Blacks off a pass from Rieko Ioane. His performances starting against Australia saw McKenzie become a regular starter for the All Blacks and he played in every single Rugby Championship test starting at fullback in 2017. Following a good performance against Argentina in Buenos Aires on 1 October 2017, where he scored a try and set All Blacks captain Kieran Read up for the opening try, McKenzie earned the award for Man of the Match. McKenzie earned that honour in two consecutive tests, winning the award the following week in the 25-24 win against South Africa where he played well and scored another try. McKenzie's try in the second test against South Africa saw him finish the 2017 Rugby Championship as the third-to-highest try scorer in the competition behind Rieko Ioane and Wallaby fullback Israel Folau, finishing the competition with four tries.
McKenzie's great form from the Rugby Championship continued in the 2017 end-of-year tests, with McKenzie having great defensive displays against Australia and France. [11] McKenzie was able to maintain form and ended the 2017 season with good performances in wins over Scotland and Wales.
In 2018, Mckenzie was selected in the All Blacks squad for the June Test Series against France. In the first test he immediately made an impact of the bench, scoring a try from a 60m break, and assisting Ngani Laumape minutes later. In the second test Mckenzie came of the bench in the 10th minute to replace the injured Beauden Barrett. McKenzie had a mixed game, playing well enough to earn the start against the French for the 3rd test. Mckenzie scored 24 points, scoring 2 tries and setting up another couple, kicking 7/7 goals. The All Blacks won the series 3-0.
McKenzie did not get any starts during the 2018 Rugby Championship. Coming off the bench against for the first four tests, he was then sent home from Argentina for a family bereavement and was dropped the next week against the Springboks in favour of Richie Mo'unga. McKenzie played well throughout the Championship with the opportunities he got, only playing a total of 106 minutes throughout the whole Rugby Championship.
McKenzie got his chance to start, playing at Fullback in the third Bledisloe Cup match in Japan on the Northern Tour where he produce an outstanding performance combining with fellow play-maker Beauden Barrett in steering the team around the field during the All Blacks' 37-20 win over the Wallabies. Mckenzie was then retained at Fullback for the rest of the All Blacks Northern Tour matches, where he produced a fine showing against England, scoring the sole All Blacks try in their 16-15 victory at Twickenham. Mckenzie started at fullback in the 16-9 defeat to Ireland in Dublin.
Having torn his ACL during Super Rugby, McKenzie was not considered for 2019 Rugby World Cup selection due to injury. [12]
After playing a significant role for the Chiefs during Super Rugby Aotearoa, Damian Mckenzie was named in the 2020 All Blacks squad. Mckenzie had limited game time, preferred off the bench, due to the continuation of the Mounga-Barrett partnership. Starting only one game, against The Wallabies. Mckenzie played limited minutes of the bench in matches with Argentina and The Wallabies
Damian Mckenzie was named in the All Blacks 36 man squad for the 2021 Steinlager Series. Mckenzie was picked at fullback for the first test against Tonga, where he scored the team's first try in a 102-0 win. Mckenzie was named in the squads for the two tests vs Fiji where the All Blacks comfortably beat Fiji.
Mckenzie was later named in the All Blacks 36 man squad for the 2021 Rugby Championship. Mckenzie was picked at fullback for the first match against Australia where he scored a try and helped the All Blacks to a 33-25 win. One week later he started at fullback against Australia where the All Blacks got the win 57-22, Mckenzie notably made a 57 metre long penalty kick in this game. [13] This win also sealed the Bledisloe Cup for New Zealand.
McKenzie is a New Zealander of Māori descent (Ngati Tuwharetoa descent). [14]
Season | Team | Games | Starts | Sub | Mins | Tries | Cons | Pens | Drops | Points | Yel | Red |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | Chiefs | 16 | 9 | 7 | 758 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 41 | 1 | 0 |
2016 | Chiefs | 17 | 17 | 0 | 1360 | 10 | 43 | 21 | 0 | 199 | 0 | 0 |
2017 | Chiefs | 17 | 17 | 0 | 1360 | 6 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 140 | 0 | 0 |
2018 | Chiefs | 15 | 15 | 0 | 1090 | 6 | 39 | 23 | 0 | 177 | 0 | 0 |
2019 | Chiefs | 7 | 7 | 0 | 521 | 2 | 19 | 11 | 0 | 81 | 0 | 0 |
2020 | Chiefs | 12 | 12 | 0 | 944 | 1 | 18 | 21 | 1 | 107 | 0 | 0 |
2021 | Chiefs | 11 | 11 | 0 | 821 | 5 | 23 | 21 | 0 | 134 | 0 | 1 |
2023 | Chiefs | 16 | 15 | 1 | 1196 | 3 | 43 | 30 | 0 | 191 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 111 | 103 | 8 | 8050 | 33 | 214 | 158 | 1 | 1070 | 1 | 1 |
Opposition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Winning% | Tries | Conversions | Penalties | Points total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Argentina | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 85.7 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 16 |
Australia | 13 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 79.2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
England | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Fiji | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
France | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 80.0 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 35 |
Ireland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Italy | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 28 |
Namibia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 26 |
Scotland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
South Africa | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 60.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Tonga | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Uruguay | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
United States | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 11 |
Wales | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 45 | 37 | 1 | 7 | 83.3 | 20 | 31 | 2 | 168 |
Christian Mathias Cullen is a retired New Zealand rugby union player. He played most of his rugby at fullback for New Zealand, for the Hurricanes in the Super 12, and for Manawatu, Wellington and later Munster at provincial level. He was nicknamed the Paekakariki Express and was considered to be one of the most potent running fullbacks rugby has ever seen. With 46 tries scored in 58 tests, Cullen is the 9th-highest try-scorer in international rugby.
Matthew Coleman Burke is an Australian former international rugby union player and sport presenter on Sydney's 10 News First.
Tasesa James Lavea is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former professional rugby league and rugby union footballer. He is of Samoan and Māori descent and heritage, and he coaches the 1st XV for Saint Kentigern College.
Kurtley James Beale is an Australian professional rugby union representative player who has made over 90 national representative appearances in a ten-year playing career at the world-class level. He is of Aboriginal descent, has had a long Super Rugby career with the New South Wales Waratahs and has played for the Melbourne Rebels and the Wasps club in England. Beale usually plays at full-back or centre but can play fly-half or winger. In 2011 Beale received the John Eales Medal, awarded to Australian rugby's Player of the Year.
Israel Jamahl Akuhata Dagg is a former New Zealand rugby union player who played for the Crusaders in Super Rugby. He has also played for the New Zealand Sevens team, and represents Hawkes Bay in the ITM Cup.
Stephen Leigh Halfpenny is a Welsh rugby union player who plays as a fullback or wing for the Crusaders in Super Rugby. Halfpenny is the third highest points scorer for Wales after Neil Jenkins and Stephen Jones.
Benjamin Robert Smith is a retired New Zealand rugby union player, currently working for Super Rugby side Highlanders' management team. He formerly played for the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition, Otago in the ITM Cup, Pau in the Top 14 and Kobelco Steelers in the Japan Rugby League One.
Aaron Wiremu Cruden is a New Zealand rugby union player, who plays for Waikato and formerly Montpellier, Manawatu and New Zealand internationally. Cruden's usual position is fly-half.
Patrick Jonathan Lambie is a retired South African professional rugby union player who last played for Racing 92 in the French Top 14. He announced his retirement in January 2019 due to multiple concussions.
Lima Zachariah Sopoaga is a professional rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for Japan Rugby League One club Shimizu Blue Sharks. Born in New Zealand, he represents Samoa at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds.
Beauden John Barrett is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a Fly half for Japan Rugby League One club Toyota Verblitz and for the New Zealand national team.
Anton Russell Lienert-Brown is a New Zealander professional rugby union player who currently plays as a second five-eighth or centre for the Chiefs in Super Rugby, and Waikato in the Mitre 10 Cup. He made his debut for New Zealand in 2016.
Richie Mo'unga is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a first five-eighth for Japan Rugby League One club Toshiba Brave Lupus and the New Zealand national team.
David Kaetau Havili is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for Super Rugby club Crusaders and the New Zealand national team.
The 2016 Rugby Championship was the fifth edition of the annual southern hemisphere Rugby Championship, featuring Argentina, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. The competition is operated by SANZAAR, a joint venture of the four countries' national unions. New Zealand won their first four matches with bonus points to gain an unassailable lead, winning the title for the fourth time.
Jordan Matthew Barrett is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a utility back internationally for New Zealand's All Blacks, and for the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby competition. Having previously been an apprentice for the All Black squad in 2016, Barrett was first selected for New Zealand in 2017, making his debut against Samoa in a warm-up test prior to the British & Irish Lions series.
Bryn Gatland is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a fly-half for North Harbour in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Chiefs in the Super Rugby competition. Gatland is the son of international coach and former player Warren Gatland.
Tiaan Falcon is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a fly-half or fullback for Toyota Verblitz in the Japan Rugby League One competition. He formerly played for the Chiefs in Super Rugby and for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition.
Rieko Edward Ioane is a New Zealand professional rugby union footballer who plays as a wing or as a centre for New Zealand team Blues in Super Rugby and the New Zealand national team. In his youth career, he was selected to play in the 2014 and 2015 Sevens World Series for New Zealand and took part in Auckland Grammar School first XV, the top representative team in secondary school.
The 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa season was a professional club rugby union tournament organised by New Zealand Rugby. Announced on 11 November 2020, the tournament was the second season of Super Rugby Aotearoa, featuring the 5 New Zealand Super Rugby sides, ran from 26 February to 8 May 2021. The tournament was won by the Crusaders, who defeated the Chiefs 24–13 in the final at Orangetheory Stadium, earning them their second consecutive Super Rugby Aotearoa title, and fifth straight Super Rugby competition title.