Forget any chatter about Scott Robertson's alleged favoritism towards his former Crusaders players. Israel Dagg, a notable ex-Crusader himself, has come out swinging in defense of the All Blacks' head coach following some surprising squad decisions for the upcoming Rugby Championship. With Robertson at the helm, who transitioned to national coach after a trophy-laden stint with the Crusaders, eyebrows raised over potential biases have now been firmly lowered.
Dagg highlighted the exclusion of Crusaders' number eight Christian Lio-Willie, a starter in recent tests against France, as evidence of Robertson’s impartiality. "It’s devastating [as a player], he will be absolutely gutted. He couldn’t have done anything more," Dagg empathized, underlining the tough nature of selection decisions.
“One thing I do love is; we’re giving opportunities and we’re breeding depth in this All Blacks squad.”
The player stepping into Lio-Willie's shoes is Chiefs' powerhouse Simon Parker, grabbing his first All Blacks nod. Parker’s inclusion, after a standout season disrupted only by injuries, signifies the depth and meritocracy driving New Zealand’s selection policy. "Simon Parker has been chomping away for the last couple of years... He played 40 minutes on the weekend, got taken off at half-time and he was banging players,” Dagg noted, impressed by Parker’s impact and resilience.
With the loose forward slots fiercely contested, Parker’s emergence is timely. Ardie Savea and Wallace Sititi are set to dominate the openside and number eight jerseys, respectively, leaving the blindside flanker position up for grabs. Parker, with his high tackle efficiency and robust play, could be the long-term solution here. Dagg praised, "This coaching group is looking for a player that is an enforcer, makes tackles – I think he was operating at 97 percent tackle efficiency in Super Rugby – and he’s a brute."
Dagg also welcomed the return of Peter Lakai to the squad, rounding off what appears to be a selection phase where form and future potential have triumphed over past allegiances. Robertson’s decisions, tough as they are, seem to be all about putting the All Blacks first, setting the stage for a vibrant and competitive Rugby Championship campaign.