Rugby: Dagg eyes Cheetahs as a must-win game

There's something bugging Highlanders fullback Israel Dagg but it's nothing a convincing win over the Cheetahs at Carisbrook today won't fix.

The 20-year-old from Hawkes Bay can't hide his disappointment as he reflects on a season record that reads one win and four losses. "Not winning really frustrates me," he said.

What galls Dagg is that three of the losses, by five or fewer points, could and should have been wins. "It hits you quite hard," Dagg said. "We've seemed to have games under control but there have been lapses of concentration and we've been punished."

The latest heartbreaker was in Invercargill when a sublime individual try by Lelia Masaga stole a late victory for the Chiefs. "He's a great talent," Dagg acknowledged.

But Dagg insists that, while the Highlanders have been down on their luck, they are not out. "We've still got a great spirit in the squad but losing close games takes a lot out of you."

It goes almost without saying that Dagg and the Highlanders regard the game against the winless Cheetahs as must-win.

All Black prop Jamie Mackintosh returns from injury and will come off the bench and there are five changes to the starting lineup which played the Chiefs.

Fetu'u Vainikolo, Johnny Leota, Steven Setephano, Tim Boys and Hayden Triggs are replaced by Kendrick Lynn, Mathew Berquist, George Naoupu, Alando Soakai and Tom Donnelly. Lynn and Berquist will be making their run-on debuts for the Highlanders.

- NZPA