Damian McKenzie 2.0 creates wonder try in New Zealand
If anyone saw Manawatū’s wonder try in their loss to Tasman on Friday at the Central Energy Trust Arena, you can be forgiven for thinking it was All Black Damian McKenzie running the show.
Blond, a fullback, pretty small, good feet, good distribution, a good kicking game- this try had all the marks of McKenzie at work, but instead it was Manawatū fullback Drew Wild, who started a sensational coast to coast try for his side in the NPC. That was not the only part he played in the move though, as he eventually got the assist for Adam Boult’s try with a cross field kick after initially receiving the ball five metres from his own line.
It was a try where the 22-year-old more or less showed the complete package in attack, pulling the strings in a great team try and even took a late shot in the middle of it for good measure (albeit fairly innocuous). Take a look:
Meanwhile, McKenzie is scheduled to start for Waikato on Saturday against Taranaki at Yarrow Stadium. The standard has been set by his doppelgänger, so it is now up to the 40 cap All Black to see if he can up that. These were the teams on Friday:
Manawatū XV
15 Drew Wild
14 Tima Fainga’anuku
13 Kegan Christian-Goss
12 Jason Emery
11 Ed Fidow
10 Brett Cameron
9 Luke Campbell
1 Joseph Gavigan
2 Siua Maile
3 Sean Paranihi
4 Micaiah Torrance-Read
5 Veikoso Poloniati
6 Potu Leavasa
7 Johnny Galloway
8 Brayden Iose
Substitutes
16 Ben Strang
17 Harrison Allan
18 Flyn Yates
19 Ofa Tauatevalu
20 Elyjah Crosswell
21 Logan Henry
22 Adam Boult
23 Louis Rogers
Tasman XV
15 Taine Robinson
14 Leicester Fainga’anuku
13 Fetuli Paea
12 Levi Aumua
11 Macca Springer
10 William Havili
9 Louie Chapman
1 Kershawl Sykes-Martin
2 Andrew Makalio
3 Isaac Salmon
4 Mahroni Ngakuru
5 Quinten Strange
6 Max Hicks
7 Braden Stewart
8 Hugh Renton
Substitutes
16 Samiuela Moli
17 Matt Graham-Williams
18 Samuel Matenga
19 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta
20 Fletcher Anderson
21 Noah Hotham
22 Timoci Tavatavanawai
23 Tomasi Alosio
