Hansen defends Dagg
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Just as it seemed Israel Dagg's All Black career was on thin ice, Steven Hansen refused to freeze-out the experienced fullback.
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Dagg started in the All Blacks mediocre performance against Samoa in Apia last Wednesday where they struggled to a 25-16 victory, and has been gifted another starting opportunity against Argentina in Christchurch on Saturday.
Although All Black coach Hansen and his selectors have made six changes to the New Zealand matchday squad, he has resisted the temptation to rush Highlanders star Ben Smith back into the mix.
Dagg, capped 48 times by New Zealand, is not just threatened by Ben Smith from travelling to the global showpiece. Charles Piutau, Nehe Milner-Skudder and Cory Jane can all play in the fullback position in addition to operating on the wing. Colin Slade has also been played at fullback by Hanson.
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Hansen said some players needed to be rested after an exhausting Super rugby season while others need more game time to prove themselves, singling out fullback Dagg who has been injured for much of the year with a calf injury.
Dagg has thus received another opportunity to play himself into the All Blacks 31-man World Cup squad.
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"It's a big ask to be able to come back from no rugby and play Test rugby but we have no other options if we want to get him[Dagg] back into the level of performance he can produce. We've got to play him," said Hansen.
"I don't think it's his last chance … I have heard that story a few times and he has ended-up coming back into form.
"We have got a lot of confidence in him and he should have a lot of confidence in himself."
Hansen has marked Friday's Test against Argentina in Christchurch as a "must win", dismissing talk that the world's top-ranked side are more concerned with building for the World Cup.
Following their sluggish performance against Samoa Hansen has called for immediate improvement.
"If you don't play well in a Test match it hurts. We didn't play well in our last one so it's been reasonably hurtful and this is our first opportunity to fix it," he explained.
"There has been a lot of talk about the World Cup and so forth, but this Test match is all about the here and now.
"It's important that we get away to a really good start in the Rugby Championship… We will need to get points early if we are going to give ourselves a chance of winning the Championship."
Only four of 17 All Blacks squad members in the Highlanders and Hurricanes who played in the Super Rugby final less than two weeks ago have been called up to the matchday squad.
Highlanders flyer Waisake Naholo, the top try-scorer in Super rugby this year, will make his Test debut alongside Hurricanes backs TJ Perenara and Ma'a Nonu with Hurricanes lock Jeremy Thrush in the reserves.
The other changes see Codie Taylor named as the reserve hooker and loose forward Liam Messam is also added to the bench.
Notable absentees include the three Smiths -the Highlanders' Ben and Aaron, and the Hurricanes' Conrad – but Hansen said the selectors "certainly haven't compromised on the quality of the team".
Hansen has experimented with his backline combinations, pairing Nonu outside Sonny Bill Williams, reversing the roles from the last three times they have played together.
The one change in the starting forward pack sees current world player of the year Brodie Retallick replacing lock Sam Whitelock.
The All Blacks have won 19 and drawn one of their 20 previous Tests against Argentina.
After Saturday, the two sides next meet on September 20 at London's Wembley Stadium in their opening World Cup match.
AFP
