According to Damian McKenzie himself, he smiles before kicking because it’s a tool to not worry about it too much. Sometimes a bit of the stuff he sees in the crowd makes him laugh a bit more he guesses.
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On the 2016 All Blacks Northern Hemisphere Tour and following the All Blacks’ first-ever defeat to Ireland, Damian McKenzie made his starting debut in the starting 15 playing at fullback in the teams’ 68-10 win over Italy.
On 17 June 2017, Damian McKenzie started for the Māori All Blacks at first-five-eighth against the touring British and Irish Lions in Rotorua.
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In 2018, Damian McKenzie was selected in the All Blacks squad for the June Test Series against France. Damian Mckenzie was named in the 2020 All Blacks squad.
Damian Mckenzie was named in the All Blacks 36-man squad for the 2021 Steinlager Series.
Damian McKenzie finished the 2016 season as the second-highest point-scorer with 199 points (10 tries, 43 conversion goals, and 21 penalty goals); behind Hurricanes First Five Eighth Beauden Barrett.
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