All Blacks legend Israel Dagg has revealed how being dropped for the 2015 World Cup by Steve Hansen shaped his later career.
The 2011 World Cup winner also reflected that at 27, he contemplated retirement after the decision.
This came when he was questioned on the toughest point of his career on a reel on Instagram.
Why did Dagg not make the 2015 All Blacks World Cup squad?
Dagg admitted himself that the 2015 season had been the toughest of his career and understood why Hansen didn’t select him for the World Cup.
The Crusaders had a difficult Super Rugby season, missing out on the playoffs, while the Highlanders had a standout year.
This led to Dagg dropping down the pecking order. Ben Smith became first-choice fullback, with Beauden Barrett, the young star, coming in as a utility backup.
Julian Savea and Nehe Milner-Skudder were incredible on the wings on the way to World Cup glory, while Waisake Naholo was the top try scorer in Super Rugby.
How did Dagg go on to rebuild his career?
After playing a starring role in New Zealand’s 2011 Rugby World Cup victory, Israel Dagg hit a low point in 2015. Plagued by poor form, self-doubt, and a serious shoulder injury, the gifted fullback was dropped from the All Blacks’ 2015 World Cup squad.
Admitting he had lost his love for the game, Dagg used the compulsory six-month layoff to reset mentally and physically. He travelled to regain perspective, shedding the fear of making mistakes that had crippled his play. When he returned for the Crusaders in 2016, a rejuvenated Dagg reignited his career.
With Ben Smith established at fullback, Dagg adapted to the right wing—a move that unleashed his attacking flair, counter-attacking brilliance, and long-range kicking game. He earned an All Blacks recall for the June 2016 series against Wales, winning his 50th test cap alongside Smith.
Dagg finished 2016 as the joint-leading try-scorer in international rugby, crossing the line eight times and playing a vital role in New Zealand’s dominant Rugby Championship campaign. Before injury ultimately forced his retirement in 2019, Dagg added 17 more test caps, proving that a world-class player could turn rejection into the catalyst for one of modern rugby’s finest comebacks.
