Jack Debreczeni's all-round skills in his first Mitre 10 Cup season impressed the Chiefs coaching panel.
Photo/Gettys
Jack Debreczeni's all-round skills in his first Mitre 10 Cup season impressed the Chiefs coaching panel.
Photo/Gettys
Jack Debreczeni's all-round skills in his first Mitre 10 Cup season impressed the Chiefs coaching panel. Photo/Getty Images
Jack Debreczeni has three pre-season games to impress Colin Cooper at the Chiefs and he should run the cutter for the proud rugby franchise when the season formally gets under way.
The 25-year-old with a Midas touch brought to Northland everything that defines rugby in his inaugural Mitre 10 Cup season— so much so that he landed a full-time contract with the Chiefs for next year's Super Rugby competition.
Chiefs head coach Cooper has been around long enough to understand that it's axiomatic to have fit and firing first fives who can put teams away with an array of skills at their disposal.
Not one to mince his words, he says Debreczeni ticks all the boxes as far as a quality No 10 is concerned.
"He played really well for Northland, led the team well around the park, his kicking game and all round leadership, he's played 35-plus Super Rugby games for the Rebels so he's experienced at that level.
"He fitted in really well in his first year at Mitre 10 Cup level and his goalkicking is pretty superb so he's ticking all the boxes."
Above all, he says Debreczeni brings experience which is what the Chiefs need at a level where the game is played at breakneck speed.
"He has a big boot and that will come in handy when we want to play territory and his catch, pass is also good. He can put teams away with the skills he's got," Cooper said.
Debreczeni will breath down Damian McKenzie's neck for a starting spot while Tiaan Falcon from Hawke's Bay is the third first five in next year's Chiefs squad.
With McKenzie unavailable until the first round in February and Falcon carrying an injury, Cooper said Debreczeni would start in the three pre-season game in December and January.
"Jack joins us in December and we'll have a good look at him, see how he trains, and he'll get a lot of opportunities to see for himself how he fits in our environment.
"Damian will still be our number one first five but there will be opportunities for Jack, if not in the starting 15, than in the team 23."
McKenzie is a hell of a talent, brilliant and exasperating in the same movement and with the look and capability of a utility at test level who was well-utilised against the Wallabies in Japan last weekend.
Depending on who the Chiefs play and what their game plan is, he can man the fullback's berth with Debreczeni providing that second clearance kicking option.
Or vice versa, although Debreczeni's spells at fullback have been few and far between.
Like McKenzie, the Taniwha pivot is a genuinely unpredictable force when he's at his best— capable of sparking something from nothing and the sort of instinctive, natural footballer on whom the Chiefs' success could be built.
If he helps the franchise lift its third Super Rugby title, Debreczeni can claim that he's as Waikato as the brewery smell wafting from the south end of Hamilton.
The Chiefs begin their 2019 Super Rugby season with a home game against the Highlanders on February 15 at FMG Stadium.
Cooper also heaped praise on Northland No 8 Matt Matich and exciting wing/centre Scott Gregory who he says needs another year or two before he's ready for a taste of Super Rugby.
Matich made his first appearance for the Chiefs as a replacement away to the Sharks in May 2018 and prior to that, played for the Blues.
Matt Matich missed out on selection for the Chiefs despite a strong performance for Northland.
Photo/Michael Cunningham
Copper said there was no room for Matich in his side for next year.
"I thought Northland as a team played well this year. Mitre 10 Cup is a tough competition, especially when teams don't get a win or when key players get injured."
Northland coach Derren Witcombe, he said, has done a good job taking his team to the Championship semifinal two years in a row.
Witcombe and Aaron Good have been named as New Zealand Under-20 assistant coaches for next year's campaign.
Other Northland players who signed contracts with New Zealand Super Rugby franchises for next year are Jack Goodhue (Crusaders), Tom Robinson, Sam Nock, Matt Moulds, Josh Goodhue (Blues).
Former Northland wing Solomon Alaimalo, who played in the Premiership for Tasman in this year's Mitre 10 Cup, has again been picked by the Chiefs.
