All Blacks coach Dave Rennie might have made a difficult call for their game against the Springboks, and it has divided fans. Going into the team to face the Springboks on the last game of the tour, the All Blacks shared Damian McKenzie doing a kicking session.
The video from the official pages has made fans believe that he would be taking over the kicking duties from Ruben Love. Ruben Love had been a fine kicker since the tour started, but has failed to make it into the squad, with Richie Mounga coming in at number 10. The team is set up differently. No one knows how this team would perform, but the decision to make Damian the kicker gave fans something to discuss.
WHAT MADE ALL BLACKS COACH DAVE RENNIE TO MAKE SUCH A DECISION
Damian McKenzie has built a remarkable kicking history throughout his rugby career. The All Blacks star has repeatedly delivered when his team needed points most.
McKenzie announced himself as a major points scorer during his early Chiefs career. In 2016, he scored 199 points during a breakthrough Super Rugby campaign.
However, his kicking became particularly memorable during Super Rugby Aotearoa in 2021. McKenzie produced several pressure kicks that helped the Chiefs secure dramatic victories.
Against the Highlanders, he kicked a match-winning penalty from around 50 metres. The kick came during extra time in New Zealand rugby’s first golden-point match.
He then produced another decisive moment against the Crusaders. McKenzie kicked the winning penalty as the Chiefs secured a narrow 25-23 victory.
The following week, he struck again against the Hurricanes. His 45-metre penalty in the 84th minute secured another dramatic Chiefs victory.
McKenzie continued producing outstanding kicking performances years later. In the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific semifinal, he scored 22 points against the Brumbies.
His consistency has also placed him among Super Rugby’s greatest scorers. McKenzie currently ranks fourth on the competition’s all-time points-scoring list.
Therefore, his kicking remains one of the defining features of his impressive career.
FANS CAN’T WAIT FOR THE GAME
As the All Blacks revealed that Damian McKenzie would be taking kicking duties, the news brought a lot of talk among fans. Some believed it was an excellent decision, while some feared for Dave Rennie’s job.
@Shannon Apapa “DMac to kick – highest points scorer, best percentage over a long period of time in Super Rugby and on par with Ramos and Pollard at international level… deserves it.”
@EXECUTIVE “Dave Rennie, if he loses, he’s fired g 😂😂😂”
@Viraj Jayasuriya “Why doesn’t Jordie kick?? He’s our best kicker”