Stage is set for All Blacks flyhalf battle

SPOTLIGHT: Hurricanes flyhalf Brett Cameron said he is relishing his battle with All Blacks playmaker Damian McKenzie in the Super Rugby Pacific semifinal against the Chiefs.

The Hurricanes host McKenzie’s Chiefs at the Wellington Rectangle Stadium on Saturday for a place in the Super Rugby Pacific Final against either the Blues or the Brumbies, who face off on Friday at Eden Park.

McKenzie has been the form flyhalf in New Zealand this season and is a favourite to inherit the All Blacks No.10 shirt from Richie Mo’unga, who has stepped down to play club rugby in Japan.

But the Hurricanes have beaten the Chiefs home and away this season with Cameron calling the shots.

“I don’t focus too much on personnel, but it’s always good having a little battle when I can test myself against great players,” Cameron told reporters.

The 27-year-old’s assured displays helped the Hurricanes finish top of the table in the regular season.

Cameron made his only international appearance for New Zealand against Japan in 2018 and is considered an outside chance to make the All Blacks squad for a two-Test home series against England next month.

He showed his big-match mentality by kicking the winning penalty to seal a last-gasp 20-17 victory over the Chiefs in Hamilton at the end of May.

“It’s satisfying to nail a moment like that,” Cameron said of his late winner.

“It can go either way, but you have to be ready for those moments.

“They [Chiefs] pose a lot of threats and are a very physical team, so we expect much of the same.”

The Hurricanes are chasing their first Super Rugby title since 2016, while the Chiefs last won the competition in 2013.