In the aftermath of the All Blacks' clean sweep against France, concerns have surfaced from former stars about the depth and readiness of key positions, despite the series win. Former New Zealand wing Israel Dagg voiced notable apprehensions about the playmaking roles, which seemed to struggle even as the team eked out a victory over an underpowered French team.
Dagg, speaking on the Sport Nation's Scotty and Izzy show, didn't mince words about the fly-half and scrum-half slots, particularly highlighting Damian McKenzie's current form.
"Damian still looks for me a little bit unsure, he looks deflated, maybe trying a bit too hard."
With Beauden Barrett sidelined due to an injury, Dagg questioned the depth at number 10, suggesting uncertainty about whether players like Ruben Love could step up or if external options should be considered.The concern extended to the scrum-half position, where Dagg felt the drop in quality was palpable without Cam Roigard. He praised Cortez Ratima’s abilities with the ball but critiqued his kicking game.
"Cortez, yes he’s very good with ball in hand but his kicking game needs a whole lot of work, bar that moment when he set up Will Jordan."
The options seemed limited, with Dagg pointing out that the All Blacks' usual richness in playmaking talent appeared diluted.Yet, it wasn't all doom and gloom according to Dagg. The former back acknowledged several positives under head coach Scott Robertson, who had been forced to give rookies a chance due to injuries. Dagg commended the young players for their resilience, especially in high-pressure situations exacerbated by injuries to key players like Luke Jacobson. He noted that despite initial struggles, the players managed to find their footing, hinting at a developing depth that could serve well in future high-stakes matches.
Despite these growing pains, the victories provided a platform for newer players to prove their mettle and for coaches to assess the robustness of their team strategies and player adaptability. The debate around player positions will likely continue as the All Blacks refine their squad dynamics, aiming to maintain their legendary status in world rugby.