‘You’ve only got one brain’

All Black Israel Dagg says Ben Smith has made the right decision to pull out of the Lions series ‘‘because you’ve only got one brain.’’

Dagg will take Smith’s fullback position for the second test against the Lions in Wellington on Saturday, after the All Blacks vice-captain pulled out because of concussion.

Dagg praised him for the decision, saying it was the right one to make.

‘‘I said to him ‘you’ve only got one brain’. We all have only one brain,’’ Dagg said yesterday.

‘‘It is pretty simple at the end of the day, we have got to make good decisions. Obviously, it’s a big test, a big series, the All Blacks, but at the end of the day he’s got two little kids, a beautiful wife and you’ve just got to make those decisions.

‘‘The whole team is behind him,’’ Dagg said.

‘‘It’s only rugby at the end of the day. We have got a life after footy that we have to worry about. For him, he’s a few head knocks this year, so he’s made the right decision.

‘‘I know he’s at home and he wants to be here. He sent me a text message before, I’m still connecting with him he’s still a big part of this team, got a lot of respect for him, so he’s helping us ... he’s sending a few messages back for the group from the outside, so he’s still part of this group.’’

Coach Steve Hansen said even if Smith passed concussion tests he wouldn’t play in the third test in Auckland, after he was ruled out of tomorrow’s second test. Dagg takes the No 15 jersey, with Waisake Naholo moving to the right wing.

Smith left the field in the first half of the All Blacks’ 30-15 win over the Lions at Eden Park with a head knock, his third one this year.

‘‘Even if he was [ready] we wouldn’t be playing him. We’ve decided already, regardless of how he goes through the protocols, that we won’t play him next week,’’ Hansen said.

‘‘Our long term concerns have been allayed but we’re going to take our time with him and get him back to where we need him to be so he’s comfortable and we’re comfortable. It’s too important for him and for us, and the game, to chuck him back out. It’s just not worth it.’’

Hansen said their stance wasn’t a reaction to Smith’s cumulative head knocks this year, but just a result of the hit he took in Auckland.

‘‘It’s just this one. If he passes the protocols he could play. We’re of the opinion that he’s had a couple so let’s be a little bit conservative and not play him. He doesn’t know that yet but he will after you all [media] tell him.’’