Israel Dagg tells ‘arrogant’ Rieko Ioane to ‘walk the talk’ with in-form centre ready to take his All Blacks spot

All Blacks great Israel Dagg insists that Rieko Ioane must back up his words with actions after a difficult 2025 season so far.

On Tuesday, the 28-year-old broke his silence on his rather surprising move to Leinster, with the Blues centre signing a short-term deal for the 2025/26 campaign.

Considering Ioane’s unpopularity in Ireland following his feud with Leinster’s favourite son Johnny Sexton, it caught many people off guard.

The All Blacks star does not appear to be overly concerned about the reception he could receive, however, and in fact stated that the sport “needs more” drama between high profile individuals and teams.

Ioane’s comments

“By all my friends’ accounts it’s about 50/50 at the moment, so we’ll try and get that 60/40 in my favour. The reception will be awesome, I can’t wait to get over there,” Ioane told reporters.

“Fans will be fans, I’m no stranger to a bit of this. Rugby needs more of this, I love this side of the game. We’ll have to wait and see when I’m over there.

“It is a huge headline, but for me it’s more about just getting to the club and playing the best rugby with the boys. I haven’t had to meet new teammates for close to eight, nine years. This has always been home, so that’s going to be cool too.”

Those comments prompted a reaction from an irritated Scotty Stevenson with the New Zealand pundit arguing that Ioane’s focus should be on improving his own form.

“More niggle… why? How about rugby needs a better left to right pass. Focus on this, your left to right pass. Focus on that before you start saying: ‘Let’s all have a fight’,” he said on Sport Nation’s Scotty and Izzy show.

“Rugby does not need that, does it?”

Dagg, who won 66 All Blacks caps, responded and was reluctant to criticise Ioane too much, but the 36-year-old did concede that the experienced centre needs to justify his words.

“Well, we’re all pretty same, same. You see it when we get an interview on the show, you get the same answers,” he said.

“Actually, a part of me loves it but, in saying that, you have to walk the talk. If you’re going to come out and show some confidence – some may say arrogance – you have to go out there and perform.

“If that was me knowing what had gone on in that World Cup, there is no chance I’m going to Ireland, so you have to really sit back and commend him and go, ‘he is ballsy’. I thought it was April Fool’s when that happened.”

Rieko Ioane embraces the hate as All Blacks star breaks silence on controversial Leinster move

Stevenson understood Dagg’s point of view but was adamant that Ioane was taking the wrong approach.

“I admire the chutzpah but you’ve got to play the game first. It’s intriguing for me that a guy who’s under so much pressure to keep his spot in the national team that this is the thing he’s focused on right now,” he added.

The threat of Billy Proctor

Dagg admits that Ioane certainly needs to knuckle down if he is to keep his place in the All Blacks XV, particularly with the likes of Billy Proctor waiting in the wings.

Proctor missed the start of the Super Rugby Pacific campaign due to injury but, since returning in April, the 26-year-old has been outstanding for the Hurricanes.

“There are other things that are at play for him and the Blues. They won last week, they’ve got a hell of a game this week against Moana Pasifika,” Dagg said.

“Rieko’s got a whole lot to focus on with his on-field performance because there’s another guy that is playing really well and his name is Billy Proctor, and he’s only been available for two weeks.

“He (Proctor) has changed the fortunes so much for that organisation, that team and the way that they play, so he’s (Ioane) still got a lot to address on the field.

“But a part of me loves this kind of arrogance and the way that he carries himself. I don’t know if he does it intentionally, but he does it and then he’s got to go out there and front it, and he doesn’t shy away from that.”

READ MORE: Rieko Ioane’s honest admission amid form criticism but All Blacks star ‘happy with the slow burn’