'We gave Damian McKenzie seven in a row for nights like this ...

Scott Robertson believes that the faith they have shown in Damian McKenzie was rewarded by his impressive performance against Ireland in Dublin.

New Zealand started 2024 knowing that they would need to find a replacement for Richie Mo’unga, who moved to Japan on a long-term contract following the end of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

McKenzie was favoured to take over after his stunning form for the Chiefs in Super Rugby Pacific, but the playmaker’s displays have been mixed for the All Blacks this year.

Despite being handed a run of games at the start of the international season, the 29-year-old failed to convince and he was dropped for Beauden Barrett at the end of the Rugby Championship.

However, after Barrett was ruled out of the Ireland clash because of a head injury, McKenzie was once again handed the reins.

He did not let Robertson down this time and the head coach was full of praise for his playmaker, who scored 18 points in the 23-13 triumph.

“He was good, ey? He’s so mercurial and sometimes he just doesn’t quite get it right, but when he does – and he got it right on Friday – it’s pretty special,” the All Blacks boss told TNT Sports.

“I’m really pleased how he controlled the game and how he kept backing himself.”

New Zealand great Justin Marshall, who played alongside Robertson for the Crusaders and All Blacks, was on the TNT panel and hailed McKenzie’s ability to keep on going even when the defence put him under pressure.

“You’re in control, you’re the general. He got knocked over a couple of times, that blitz defence came in and narrowed him down, but… he bounces up and then he has a crack at the line; that’s rewarding,” Marshall said.

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The concern with McKenzie has always been his game-management at the highest level but the talented playmaker showed that he could control a big Test match with his boot.

“With D Mac, we controlled it off the left boot and the right boot. We’ve got a lot better at that. Overall, our kicking game was a lot better,” Robertson said.

“We’ve given him a chance, we gave him seven in a row for nights like this. Everyone goes: ‘What are you trying?’ Well this tonight, this is why we get the pay from it.”

After a difficult Rugby Championship, which saw them lose three of their opening four matches to relinquish the title, they have hit some good form.

They defeated the Wallabies over successive weeks in September to retain the Bledisloe Cup and they followed that up with wins against Japan, England and Ireland.

Robertson is not content with their five successive victories, however, and wants the All Blacks to complete their northern hemisphere tour with triumphs over France and Italy.

“There’s still a couple to go, France in Paris, we’re not rolling up there just for a croissant, and you’ve got Italy that can play as well. They’ve grown as a squad, so we’ve still got two to get,” he added.

“We always knew that the courage and care was in the group, we just had to execute it a little bit more. I’m just really pleased for everyone – the whole staff, the whole group – and how much effort we put into it [against Ireland]. The guys executed.”

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