All Blacks and Chiefs utility Damian McKenzie
Coach Steve Hansen, spoke to the media at the All Blacks first “foundation day” in Wellington. He confirmed that the 23-year-old ruptured his ACL in his
“Yeah he’s he’s done an ACL so [it] looks like he could be out for eight to nine months, which is a real shame for him,”
“His World Cup opportunity is gone [but] he’ll still be young enough to make probably the next two.
“It’s just important that he gets his knee right and takes his time to come back and achieve the dreams that he wants to achieve.”
Hansen said it was sad for McKenzie, “but it creates another opportunity for somebody else we’ve got to expect injuries and there will be more than just him when we finally name the team to go to the World Cup
“Our task is finding someone else to fill his role and his task is getting the knee right to be able to play the game.”
Hansen said the All Blacks are not short of options as they still had Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo’unga as first five-eighths options while Ben Smith and Jordie Barrett have the ability to cover fullback.
McKenzie left the pitch on the 41st minute in Hamilton after clashing with Blues Fly-Half, Otere Black.
A scan confirmed the extent of the injury that will see McKenzie out of action for around 6-9 months.
With the World Cup just shy of 5 months away, the door has been opened for another Out-Half to join Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo’unga in the All Blacks squad.
Losing McKenzie is a huge blow for the All Blacks, having earned 23 caps to date he provides Hansen with an option at 10 & 15 and also give him another reliable goal-kicking option.
Hansen did deliver some better news regarding injured All Blacks midfielder Sonny Bill Williams and flanker Sam Cane.
He said Williams “had his knee trimmed up” and Hansen was confident he would come back.
“Many people come back from cartilage injuries so that’s not a concern but if he gets back and plays four or five games, bingo, he’s going to play some good footy we saw the other night he played well.
Cane has resumed light contact training with the Chiefs after breaking in his neck in the All Blacks’ test against South Africa in Pretoria last October.
“He’s back into contact which is wonderful news and he’s just got to take his time there. I’m sure Coops [Chiefs coach Colin Cooper] and his team will bring him back when they think he’s ready.
“What is important is he comes back when he is ready and he is confident. Coming off an injury like that there is a lot of confidence and mind [issues] that you have to come through as well as the injury side.”
