Israel Dagg knows injuries and he knows disappointment. But his latest injury, caused by an act of foul play which will rule him out of an All Black return until August at the earliest, might just be the cruellest yet.
A reckless and dangerous high tackle by Brumbies wing Chance Peni in the first half of the Crusaders' 21-8 victory in Canberra on Friday has had big consequences for the 29-year-old who was two games back from a knee injury for which he has received stem cell treatment.
Dagg left the GIO Stadium pitch for a head injury assessment, but it was strain put on his problematic knee which will probably have more of a long-term impact.
Such was the force of the illegal tackle that Dagg's right leg was momentarily trapped under his body. He is booked in for an MRI scan today and the long and lonely road of rehabilitation is once again ahead of him.
The Crusaders play the Rebels in Melbourne on Friday and are staying in Sydney in the meantime. Dagg was never scheduled to play at AAMI Stadium because he and his wife Daisy are expecting their second child but his return to Christchurch was not as happy as it should have been.