Israel Dagg weighs in on All Blacks' ongoing high-ball struggles

Former All Blacks outside back Israel Dagg has pinpointed a couple of issues with the ongoing high-ball issues that have plagued Dave Rennie’s side, following their 3-1 series defeat against the Springboks.

The All Blacks’ 43-28 loss in Baltimore, their third straight defeat against Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks, highlighted several recurring issues.

While the scrum improved during the fourth Test in Baltimore, the All Blacks’ lack of execution with ball in hand and discipline has continued to haunt Rennie’s side.

But it’s the aerial contest, a key strength of the Springboks, where the All Blacks have arguably been troubled the most over the course of 2026.

The former All Black, who hosts the breakfast radio show on Sport Nation NZ with Scotty Stevenson, believes that the Kiwis must adjust their new strategy.

“We’re here to just talk about maybe where we could probably shore up some things for the ABs; high ball is still a concern, we talked about it last week,” Dagg said on Sport Nation.

“We knew they weren’t going to make some changes, and they went to it again. I just think it’s time we go back to the old traditional, the guy in the backfield just dominating, putting a name on it and just getting up because at least you’re giving yourself a chance.

“What South Africa did in that game is they knew that the game plan from the All Blacks is the guy running back is going to catch it, so they’re actually kicking it short. They’re actually putting it at around the 15-meter, maybe 18-meter mark, and they would allow their chasers to get up.”

Dagg explained that not only is their strategy working, but they have the players to help apply those specific adjustments.

“Ethan Hooker, he is very, very good at chasing the ball, and dominating that space. So I think it’s probably time that they make those adjustments, make those changes, and go back to their way of the guy in the backfield coming forward, getting up, putting a name on it, dominating the space, and just making it a genuine contest.

“I just think it’s time.”

The 66-Test former All Black, who had a staggering 91 per cent win percentage during his Test career, explained why he feels the attacking shape “causes us a lot of trouble”.

“Our shape is great, and I love our shape when it works. That Will Jordan try was a prime example. Backs, forwards, interplay,” Dagg said.

“But I think our shape actually causes us a lot of trouble, sometimes. And the reason why it’s very good. It looks great, but there are a lot of recovery passes with it, and when you throw those big recovery passes, South Africa defended really well on the edge; Jesse Kriel, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, on the outside would come up.

“The All Blacks would see them shooting out, so they’d step back or they’d throw that recovery pass. Now I think you have to be brave, and from my time when I was playing, it’s just take an extra step so that defender has to come really far outside of the defensive line to get you, and that’ll allow you to get that ball to space.

“But when you throw that pass over him, that’s what he wants you to do. He wants you to throw that big recovery pass so he can get off and make a tackle. So I think there were opportunities to probably kick from that second phase. There was a prime example with Anton Lienert-Brown dropping it right in front.

“Those are the opportunities that that defensive kind of system presents to you.”