- Title: Competition key to All Blacks' success - Dagg
- Date: 22nd October 2019
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (OCTOBER 22, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FORMER NEW ZEALAND FULLBACK ISRAEL DAGG DURING INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER NEW ZEALAND FULLBACK, ISRAEL DAGG, SAYING: "I think this team (New Zealand) is very competitive at the moment. You have got guys in the squad that could play in any other team but they are not even starting in the All Blacks. That is just what it means; nobody is given the jersey, you have got to earn it, you have got to work hard for it and if you are not performing then someone else will take that opportunity. That is what happens at the moment. You wouldn't have thought a year ago that a lot of those guys that are starting at the moment, they weren't even in the picture. That is just World Cup years: guys get excited, they want to make the team, so they have good off-seasons, they work really hard, they play really well throughout the year in Super Rugby, they show form and then they get rewarded with a game with the All Blacks, then take their opportunity. It is all about the moments and taking it." VARIOUS OF DAGG BEING INTERVIEWED (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER NEW ZEALAND FULLBACK, ISRAEL DAGG, SAYING: "I guess when you make it into the All Blacks environment there is a legacy and there is an aura about the team and you know you are coming into something pretty special. I guess when you are in there you don't want to let them (coaches) down. They are always talking about values, what it means to be an All Black, they talk about the old players that have worn the jersey, what they have done in that environment and in that team. They just have good standards. It isn't given and you have to work hard for it. You have to earn it." DAGG BEING INTERVIEWED (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER NEW ZEALAND FULLBACK, ISRAEL DAGG, SAYING: "Beauden (Barrett) and Richie (Mo'unga) have been pretty class to be honest. Beauden has always been class, he is a quality player, just how he has transitioned into that fullback role - I was lucky enough to play over 50 tests at fullback and I know how demanding it is and how hard it is physically - and just seeing him doing it with ease, every week getting better and better. I think he is the best fullback in the world at the moment. His reading of the game, he is always in the right position at the right time. When an opposition makes the kick, he is always scooping them up and getting himself into good positions. His counterattack is second to none. He can kick off both feet. It is the quality he has. Because he has played 10, he understands how to control the game as well. If you have two 10s on the field that can control each side, it makes it harder for the defence." DAGG BEING INTERVIEWED (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER NEW ZEALAND FULLBACK, ISRAEL DAGG, SAYING: "I know England will be talking about putting them (New Zealand) under pressure. If you give New Zealand time and space and you let them play their game, then they will do what they did to Ireland. So, England will be smart. Eddie (Jones) is a smart coach. He will be telling them. He has already started in the media, talking them up, giving them praise... I love these little mind games that coaches play it, it is great." DAGG BEING INTERVIEWED
- Embargoed: 5th November 2019 02:04
- Keywords: Israel Dagg England New Zealand rugby union Rugby World Cup competition Beuden Barrett Japan
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- City: TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Rugby Union,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001B26G18F
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Relentless competition for places has been the driving force for New Zealand players during an unprecedented run of success, former fullback Israel Dagg said on Tuesday (October 22), as the All Blacks head into their third consecutive Rugby World Cup quarter-final.
New Zealand, winners of the last two World Cups, face England in the semi-final of this year's tournament on Saturday (October 26), having looked at their dominating and ruthless best in the hunt for a third successive title.
Dagg, who was part of New Zealand's World Cup winning squad in 2011, has been impressed with the All Blacks so far and believes it is the fierce competition for places that continues to drive the side on.
Stalwarts such as Sonny Bill Williams and Reiko Ioane have found themselves warming the bench for the All Blacks so far in Japan, replaced in the starting line-up by the likes of Jack Goodhue and Sevu Reece.
New Zealand beat Ireland 46-14 in the quarter-finals last weekend to notch up an 18-game winning streak in World Cup matches.
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