An All Blacks stand down week could see Damian McKenzie miss the Chiefs' most important match of the regular season. Photo / Getty Images
An All Blacks stand down week could see Damian McKenzie miss the Chiefs' most important match of the regular season. Photo / Getty Images
The Chiefs will likely be without star No10 Damian McKenzie for what could be the most important match of their Super Rugby season so far.
McKenzie, who has an All Blacks stand down week owing, was named in the side to play the Brumbies in Hamilton on Saturday night, whichmeans he was in line to miss the clash against the Hurricanes next Friday.
While there was no written agreement, Kiwi Super Rugby clubs and New Zealand Rugby reached a verbal understanding that All Blacks players should be rested for two weeks of the season as a form of player management.
That clash looks likely to decide which of the two sides will get home advantage in the opening round of the playoffs.
With two rounds remaining, the Hurricanes lead the Chiefs by four points. Should the Chiefs lose to the Brumbies, then the conversation is irrelevant, but if they win, a home playoff is within touching distance.
The Hurricanes play the Blues tonight in Wellington, following the Chiefs' match. While they get their stars back for the match and go in as deserved favourites, if the Blues pull off the upset, the Chiefs can climb to fourth with a bonus-point win over the Brumbies.
If both the Chiefs and Hurricanes win tonight, all eyes will be on FMG Stadium next Friday - and McKenzie will likely have to watch from the sidelines.
It poses quite the test of the Chiefs' depth at first five-eighth - matching up against All Blacks incumbent Beauden Barrett barring injury - with McKenzie's brother Marty, the likely option to man the role.
Despite some flaws in his continued development in the No 10 jersey, McKenzie has been at the forefront of the Chiefs' offensive production this season.
Damian McKenzie has improved in strides at first five-eighth this season. Photo / Getty Images
Halfback Brad Weber said it was clear McKenzie's game had grown immensely throughout the campaign.
"He's a bit more assured in terms of when it's time to kick and play for field position rather than just try to run it out of our own half all the time.
"I'm not having to scramble back and clean up after his mess like I used to do. His communication has been outstanding - he never used to give me much, now he's a loud little bugger."
Among the team's top five in running metres, tackle busts, tries scored, line breaks and offloads, the 23-year-old can change the game and has shown improvement in managing the play.
The No 10 was one of two All Blacks in the side who had a rest week still to take, with midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown out for the Brumbies clash.
Chiefs forward coach Neil Barnes said the side had not taken a strategic approach to when they would rest their All Blacks - with centre Anton Lienert-Brown standing down this weekend.
"It's not something we're tactically going about we need to win this one or perhaps we can risk losing this one and win the one after.
"We're just playing it week by week. We trust the players that are here to do the job."
Before they set their sights on the Hurricanes, the Chiefs have to get through a Brumbies side coming off an impressive win over the Wellingtonians last weekend.
The Australian side smothered their counterparts in Canberra, limiting them to just 12 points. With a strong forward pack led by David Pocock - the competition's top pilferer - the Chiefs will be in for a physical match.
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