ITM Cup: Dagg boosts bid for shield

Israel Dagg.

Fullback or wing for All Black Israel Dagg?

That's the question Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby team head coach Craig Philpott and his assistant Danny Lee were pondering last night after they were informed Dagg had been released from international duties for Saturday's Ranfurly Shield challenge against the Counties-Manukau Steelers in Pukekohe.

"It was great news when we saw the Steelers retain the shield with their 29-25 win against Otago and even better news when we heard Izzy would be available for us. Izzy is pretty excited too," Philpott said last night.

While Dagg, who hasn't played for the Magpies since 2011, is one of 10 All Blacks released for ITM Cup duty this weekend, Magpies prop Ben Franks isn't among them. Philpott said Franks wasn't released because he has been a regular member of the ABs 23.

It will be a surprise if Philpott and Lee don't opt for the fullback role for Dagg.

However, with Ryan Tongia, who scored two tries in Friday night's win against Taranaki, performing so well at fullback they could leave him in the No 15 jersey and put Dagg on the left wing, which would force Mikey Vuicakau out of the starting XV and possibly the playing 22.

Replacing Vuicakau with Tongia to allow Dagg to start at fullback would give the Magpies a starting back three of Dagg, Tongia and Richard Buckman. The attacking potential this trio provides is mouthwatering, and defensively they could be a brick wall.

Prop Adrian Barone, who will be out of action for two to three weeks with a shoulder injury, will join Franks as the only Magpies unavailable for the challenge.

The Magpies won't lack motivational ammunition as it was the Steelers who beat the Magpies 27-24 to win the famous log o' wood at McLean Park last year - six days after the Magpies had won it from Otago in Dunedin.

Ten of the Magpies who either started or came off the bench in that loss are likely to get game time at ECOLight Stadium.

They are Buckman, first-five-eighth Ihaia West, locks Mark Abbott and Michael Allardice, hookers Ash Dixon and Ged Robinson, halfback Chris Eaton, captain Brendon O'Connor and fellow flanker Trent Boswell-Wakefield.

Former All Black and Magpies hooker Hika Elliot is one of only five 2013 Steelers who took the field in the victory who aren't in this year's Steelers squad. The others are 2013 captain and No 8 Fritz Lee, loosie Sean Reidy and props Sam Aiono and Simon Lemalu.

With All Black Sevens star Sherwin Stowers, one of the heroes of last year's challenge, and Blues winger and one game All Black Frank Halai among the back three, plus Chiefs pair Bundee Aki and Tim Nanai-Williams, and Rey Lee-Lo among the midfield contenders, folk around the Bombay Hills have every right to argue the Steelers backline is more star studded than the Magpies.

Locks Ronald Raaymakers and Jimmy Tupou and loosie Adam Cathcart are among the Steelers forwards who deserve respect.

Philpott said the Magpies will train today and tomorrow, have Wednesday off and then train again Thursday. They will have their Captain's Run on Friday morning before travelling to Pukekohe.