Dagg weighs in on All Blacks' 'confusing as hell' fullback selections

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has appeared resolute in his preferred selection of Beauden Barrett at fullback throughout the past 15 months, but a start for Damian McKenzie in the 15 jersey against Uruguay suggested there may be another option on the selection table.

McKenzie’s form in Super Rugby Pacific as the architect of the Chiefs attack was destructive. Occupying the first receiver role, the 28-year-old piled pressure on defences with an unpredictable and evasive running game, helping his team to a near-perfect record in the competition.

Continuing that form with the All Blacks, McKenzie has had a run as both primary and secondary playmaker and looked equally effective at each.

The dual playmaker model has challenged the chemistry of New Zealand’s playmakers since 2019’s World Cup, and while McKenzie’s form would see him ready to take centre stage under the bright lights of Paris, the lack of sample size of him playing next to first five-eighth Richie Mo’unga is cause for concern.

A man who has won a World Cup in the 15 jersey, Israel Dagg, says it may be too late for a changing of the guard.

“I just don’t think that Fozzie (Ian Foster) will make that change,” Dagg told SENZ Breakfast. “He’s had four years to make that change and he hasn’t made it. So, I don’t think he’s going to come out in the quarter-final and make that change.

“Look I’ve seen a lot from Damian, don’t get me wrong, I’ve had to change my tune on Damian. I just think with Beauden being at fullback, there wouldn’t be a position for Damian on the bench. But, there has to be a position for Damian on the bench with just how well he is playing.

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“He’s got that X-factor about him, he’s got that randomness about him. Whether that’s enough to win a big pressure moment in a quarter-final, well time will tell. He has to be in the conversation now.

“I don’t think they’ll change the fullback role. I think they’ll stick tried and true with Richie Mo’unga at ten and Beauden at fullback, and Will Jordan on the wing with Mark Telea on the left.

“I think they’ll just keep it the same as what we saw against Italy. It’s just too late. Why would they do that now?

“It wouldn’t surprise me, because they’ve been confusing as hell with some of the ways that they’ve approached these games. But, I think they’ll stick tried and true to what they’ve done already and it’ll be the same team.”