Dagg insists that Kiwis in need ofcontrolled anger
ISRAEL DAGG insists the All Blacks will use their anger to inspire them to victory in Auckland next week.
The Lions sets up a series decider at Eden Park, and Dagg says that while New Zealand were amazed at the support for the tourists, they will be looking to silence them next week.
‘It is going to be huge,’ said the All Blacks fullback. ‘We are going back to Eden Park – tonight it felt like London out there, it was pretty loud. It is great for the series.
‘It is all about controlled anger, we will be hungry, the boys feel down tonight but we will be working hard, holding each other accountable and come Monday it will be all guns blazing.’
Dagg rued the fine margins that lost the All Blacks this match in Wellington.
‘We had a nine-point lead,’ he said. ‘They made a break and passed it wide. After Toby Faletau’s try they got some momentum.
‘It is one of those things, maybe if we had got those tackles we would have stopped
their momentum.
‘It is like a boomerang, they scored again and put us under a lot of pressure. It came down to critical moments and in the last 20 minutes they nailed it.’
The penalty that won the match came when Charlie Faumuina took out Kyle Sinckler. The Lions prop jumped into contact and Faumuina hit him while he was still in the air. Referee Jerome Garces gave the penalty but Sinckler had to be held back by his team, incensed at the act against him.
The Harlequins tighthead was still fuming 10 minutes after the final whistle.
But Dagg played down the niggle between the sides.
‘It is sport,’ he said. ‘Everyone wants to win. We have to be gracious in defeat and gracious when you win. It is just one of those things.
‘Every time we put that jersey on people want to take our heads off and put in a great performance. It is nothing new, there was a lot of tension out there. There is going to be a bit of niggle.’