Editorial: Dogged Dagg deserves ABs recall to duty

Israel Dagg playing for Hawke's Bay Magpies.

This writer has Israel Dagg to thank for 12 bottles of beer.

Due to a debate about the depth of his talent on the rugby field, the Bay boy was the subject of a intense footy bet with a friend a few years back.

We'd just finished watching yet another of his stellar performances for the Magpies, where an ensuing conversation went something like this.

Me: "He'll be an All Black very soon."

Friend: "Israel Dagg will never pull on an All Black jersey."

Needless to say, a box of chilled Steinlager later materialised on my doorstep. (Thanks, Izzy).

But my appreciation of the man didn't hinge on winning the ale. There's so much more to like. For starters, the name alone is delightful, being a bit Kiwi, and a bit not - both endemic and exotic.

Then there was the time a year or so back I took my daughter out to lunch in Napier for her birthday and Dagg happened to walk in with his wife. Despite me encouraging my girl to say hello (a big fan) she was too timid, so yours truly had to interrupt the star couple's lunch for a quick introduction. I can only assume it's tough to say yes to public impositions on your day off, but he did so with a smile and the photo to prove it remains in its frame in her room.

Hence his rocketing back into the All Blacks' squad has been well received in our house.

His Twitter feed has since been busy with congratulations since yesterday's announcement, to which he replied: "Thanks for love people very grateful and honoured to be a part of this @AllBlacks team ... big few weeks ahead".

The guy has massive, well-earned appeal and he's given us every reason to believe he'll be back to his best in black.