Rugby: Dagg's agent defends plans to defect

Israel Dagg. Photo / Getty Images

Israel Dagg's agent says neither the new All Black fullback nor the Crusaders should be penalised for being ambitious.

It appears only a matter of time before Dagg, a star in a struggling team over the last two years, deserts the Highlanders to join the enemy camp.

He went as far as to say this week that he was "95 per cent certain" of joining the Crusaders and was looking forward to playing alongside close friend and fellow Magpies outside back Zac Guildford.

With outstanding flanker Adam Thomson also rumoured to be coveting a place in the Crusaders squad, the struggling Highlanders may face the unpalatable situation of having two of their three All Blacks cherry-picked by New Zealand's strongest franchise.

Simon Porter, who represents Dagg for the Essentially Group, could not give a timeline on when a decision on the player's future would be reached.

"Nothing can be done until the collective is ratified, and we're still a wee way away from that," he said.

"Until then, we're operating in the old world. You can't sign on the dotted line anywhere."

While Porter was not exactly delighted Dagg had been so overt in his public courting of the Crusaders, he did not consider the player had done anything wrong.

"You can't blame the guy for being honest. That's where his head's at."

Dagg got his start in his home province but the Highlanders gave him an opportunity to get regular game time at the highest level.

He flourished, and his form has been rewarded with a test call-up. Given Adam Thomson and Jimmy Cowan have managed to retain their All Black status while playing for the Highlanders, it might be questioned why Dagg feels the need to jump ship.

"Obviously that's one of the things that I talk to Israel about: what is in his best interests?" Porter said.

"He has become an All Black playing for the Highlanders week-in, week-out. He has to assess whether he will have those opportunities in the Crusaders. If he doesn't, what impact will it have on his career?

"Israel is very ambitious, as a lot of rugby players are. He'd like to taste victory a little bit more.

"I think that's a key reason why maybe a move north is something he's leaning towards."

The average rugby fan - especially those south of the Waitaki - might look at the Crusaders' resources and consider they are being greedy by chasing Dagg and Thomson.

But Porter said the leading franchise could not be condemned for actively pursuing players it wanted.

"Through the new collective bargaining process, there's been talk about allocating equal amounts of funding to all the franchises.

"That's fine if everyone is playing under the same rules. But should we really be handicapping the New Zealand franchises when we're not playing under the same rules as Australia and South Africa?

"You can see why it makes sense to have a salary cap in some competitions, like the NRL. But we don't have a cap in the Super 14."

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES