Israel Dagg’s impassioned plea to the next All Blacks coach as Springboks requirement set for new boss
Favourite for the All Blacks head coach's job, Jamie Joseph, and former back three star Israel Dagg.
Israel Dagg insists that he “doesn’t care” who the next All Blacks head coach will be, with the only stipulation being that they return to the values which made them the world’s dominant team.
New Zealand Rugby are looking for a replacement for Scott Robertson, who was sacked following a mixed couple of years in charge.
The governing body has stated that they have to be a Kiwi and that they must have international experience.
Debate has therefore raged since Robertson’s departure over who his successor should be, with Jamie Joseph and Dave Rennie the favourites to take over.
But Dagg does not have a preference either way and simply hopes that, whoever it is, they bring the pride back to the All Blacks jersey.
Dagg’s impassioned remarks
“I don’t care who’s going to be coaching the All Blacks, I just want someone to come in and put that jersey first, put that jersey at the forefront of their mind and know that there is so much they’re playing for at the moment,” he said on Sport Nation’s Scotty and Izzy show.
“Go in there and get back to where we once were back in the day; the All Blacks being the team that were so revered. That’s all I want.
“Everyone’s asking me and I’m like, ‘I don’t care’, I just want whoever’s in that role to serve the jersey. I know that’s probably a horrible way of thinking about it.
“Jamie Jo’s probably going to get it and, if it is Jamie Jo, cool. Now how do we get back to where we once were? What is needed from this group? What is needed from our fans, from our nation, from our people just to get rugby back at the forefront of their minds? Where the people are so proud of our country.
“We give people that travel, all these artists, whatever, when they come to our country, we give them an All Blacks jersey because we’re so proud of it.
“At the moment, I don’t know how many people are proud because all I get is a lot of concern and unease when I’m talking about the game of rugby union in this country.”
Whichever coach gets the nod will have a tough assignment in their first season as the All Blacks face the Springboks in four Test matches in 2026, three of those being on South African soil.
Robertson only managed to beat the Boks once in his four attempts with his two away games in 2024 ending in narrow defeats and the most recent clash ending in a record defeat for New Zealand.
‘Have to beat the Springboks’
“We’re waiting for performances, we’re waiting for consistency, we’re waiting for something which is a part of our lives and that is a brand of rugby which is so enjoyable to watch,” Dagg added.
“It’s tough, it’s uncompromising, we stay in the fight for the full 80 minutes.
“I think it’s the way that we play the game. We’ve got individual athletes that are world-beaters, that are global headline acts that carry so much mana and support.
“The proof is in the results and the way that we play the game. You’ve got to beat South Africa, that’s a start. You’ve got to go to South Africa, beat South Africa in South Africa. Whether that’s by one point, 10 points, whatever, but you’ve got to go over there and get results.
“We love the All Blacks when they win. Over in South Africa, they don’t mind losing the odd one in between World Cups but here, you’ve just got to win.
“You’ve got to win at home, you’ve got to win abroad and then you’ve got to win the Webb Ellis. I know it’s tough but that’s just the way Kiwis are.”
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