Rugby: McKenzie display puts pressure on Cruden

Damian McKenzie hit the ground running for the Chiefs at No10. Photo / Getty Images

Few things inspire confidence in a team like a first-five with a fully functioning computer for a brain combined with the bravery to run the ball into a cul-de-sac of angry opposition forwards.

The Chiefs now appear to have two. Aaron Cruden, rested for the Chiefs' opening game against the Blues at North Harbour last night, will want to hit the ground running to put the pressure back on Damian McKenzie, a 19-year-old who looks to have a promising future.

McKenzie didn't have the perfect game. He lost the ball in contact in the final minute of the first half and also missed a long-range penalty in the first stanza.

The good thing for him is that soon after, he had no hesitation in telling rookie skipper Matt Symons that he wanted to have another shot from near the halfway line and he duly slotted it. He was also quick and decisive with the ball - just what a team without the experience of Cruden, Brodie Retallick or Liam Messam want, and showed he is no slouch on defence, stopping wing Tevita Li in his tracks.

His carry early in the second half, during which he collected a slap around the chops, earned a penalty from the resulting ruck which he converted. He was back to snuff out the danger of a long kick, which the electric Li was chasing.

It takes a bit to take the limelight from Sonny Bill Williams, but McKenzie, playing alongside him, did it. And reasonably comfortably in the end. He also outshone his opposite, yet it was the kicking of Ihaia West which kept the Blues in it, including the penalty which narrowed the score to 23-18 moments after he was prone and receiving medical treatment.

The Blues' ability to stay in the game owed much to their forwards - Charlie Faumuina had a big impact on arrival in the second half.

Encouragingly for coach John Kirwan, Hayden Triggs, Steven Luatua, Brendon O'Connor and Josh Bekhuis also had their moments.

There was grit and determination from the Blues pack - the numerous flare-ups were testament to that. They had some hard workers among them, and will need more of the same over the next fortnight when they are in South Africa, but the touches of class were coming from the Chiefs, especially their little bloke with the skinny legs at No10.