All Blacks great: Eden Park factor can give extra ’30 or 40 per cent’ to Scott Robertson’s under pressure side

Israel Dagg insists that the Eden Park factor will be a benefit rather than a burden for the All Blacks this weekend, despite the pressure of the occasion.

New Zealand have not lost at the ground since 1994, but many think the record could go this weekend when the back-to-back world champions South Africa come to town.

The Springboks have beaten their arch-rivals in the past four matches, while the All Blacks go into the match off the back of a shoddy defeat to Argentina.

There is not necessarily a lot of positivity emanating from New Zealand at the moment, but Dagg claims that playing at Eden Park can give them a decisive lift.

How Eden Park can ‘flick the switch’

“It should give you confidence playing at Eden Park. I’ll give you an example: we lost to the British and Irish Lions at Wellington [in 2017] and I knew going back to Eden Park would give me 30 or 40 per cent [extra] confidence,” he said on Sport Nation’s Scotty and Izzy show.

“It was going back to a place that we know so well, where we’ve always assembled and feels like you’re own home. It feels like it’s a part of the All Blacks aura and the All Blacks identity in this country.

“Following a loss, it’s always difficult. You’re always searching, you’re always wondering where it all went wrong and you start thinking a bit deeper, but you’ve got to flick the switch really quickly.

“Knowing that we were going back to Eden Park, it gave me a lot of confidence knowing that it’s a place where we play well, know well and the crowds are fantastic. You use that to help you and help you better yourself in the next game.”

Israel Dagg concerned Scott Robertson has made fatal error as ‘pressure mounting’ on All Blacks boss

Robertson and the All Blacks find themselves under significant pressure following their reversal in Buenos Aires, and the added stress of keeping their Eden Park record intact could have a negative impact.

Dagg disagreed with that assessment but did admit that the head coach is facing a challenge he never experienced when in charge of the Crusaders.

‘That pressure is real’

“We’ve got to be completely honest here as throughout his time in Super Rugby, Razor never felt this pressure, he never felt this part of the game,” he said.

“It’s very hard to compare both competitions but he never really felt defeat. When you’re representing an organisation that wins everything, there’s always success, there are always victories, so you’ve never really had to go through a difficult period.

“Right now, let’s be honest, that pressure is there and it’s real.”

New Zealand will also want to win to mark Ardie Savea’s huge milestone in the perfect way with the great back-row set to earn his 100th cap this weekend.

“It’s a big week, Ardie Savea’s 100th. It’s a big Test, lot of emotion, lot of pressure, lot of fear probably, but a lot of excitement for a player that is going to play his 100th,” Dagg added.

“I think it’s really important that you balance that as well. It’s obviously a huge accolade for him whilst also trying to juggle the team and trying to get ready to take on the Springboks.”

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