'Don't you ever do that again' - Dagg's 2010 ripping out in front of team
Former All Blacks back Israel Dagg has broken down his 2010 match-winner for New Zealand against South Africa in Soweto in the Rugby Championship.
Dagg scored a late winning try as the All Blacks beat the Springboks in front of 98,000 people in Soccer City, one of the All Blacks’ most impressive victories.
Dagg was telling the story ahead of the upcoming Rugby Championship opener between the Boks and All Blacks in Nelspruit on Saturday.
“I remember that game. The one you alluded to is one I got in trouble. Soccer City in front of 98,000. We’re losing, I think by two tries in the last five minutes.
“Richie McCaw had a freakish finish in the right hand corner. Three South African defenders against Richie McCaw, our openside flanker, who has a big heart but finesse? Finishing? You know… a bit questionable. But how about that finish? It was so good.
“He scores in the corner. They went upstairs. It was touch and go but they awarded the try.”
After the restart the Springboks had possession when a huge hit by All Blacks hooker Kevin Mealamu on centre Jean De Villiers saw the All Blacks win a turnover.
“We counter ruck and you watch Nigel Owens – he’s reffing – and he’s about to penalise us. Then he doesn’t and we’re thankful he doesn’t.
“We blow over. Mil Muliaina gets the balls and throws it to Ma’a Nonu.
“You’ve got John Smit, poor John Smit. Playing his 100th Test for South Africa, goes to tackle Ma’a. He holds onto his leg but pulls his boot off, so Ma’a is running down the field with one boot.
“Mils is on the inside, I’m on the outside. I managed to just get in front of my winger to get into a good support line and Ma’a looks inside and goes ‘Nah, not Milsy’, looks out, sees me. I’m a young, 21-year-old, excited, thinking about the after-party, where we’re going. Catch this ball, I’m running, and looking around ‘This is pretty cool! 98,000 people. I’m the man here, let’s go!”
“So I start [raises arm in the air], chahooing and then I’m like ‘Wow, I better put the ball down here’.
Dagg put it down with just a couple of inches to spare and the All Blacks won the game. Yet despite winning the game for New Zealand with his 79th minute try, All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen wasn’t at all happy with his young charge after the game.
“And then we get back in the changing room and we’re all on top of the world. We’ve just come back from nowhere to win in South Africa. We’re sitting there having a nice quiet Steinlager with the boys and we’re chipping away. Then Steve Hansen walks in. ‘How you going boys?’.
Hansen then turns to Dagg: “Don’t you ever do that again” and I’m like what? “Don’t you ever celebrate before you put the ball down.”
“I’m like ‘Sorry coach. It’s all good’ And he walks off and I go to Cory Jane and go ‘Doesn’t he know I just won us the game?’
“CJ being Cory just gets up and goes ‘Awh! He just said he won us the game!’ And Steve looks around and looks all angry and I go ‘CJ you bloody…’. It was CJ being CJ, always got to have a laugh.
“Steve rips me out in front of the team and then I just have a little laugh and CJ throws me under bus, so that’s my memory!
Absolute gold from Izzy ?
Israel Dagg breaks down his 2010 match winner in South Africa. pic.twitter.com/eMso56V26t
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) July 30, 2022
“Tell you what kids, you at home, if you’re about to score a try: Put it down with two hands and never ever celebrate before you score the try.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Good luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to comments