First take: Dagg takes a step in the right direction

Israel Dagg silenced a few critics against Argentina. Photo / Getty

All Blacks 39
Argentina 18

You sensed Israel Dagg's interest. It would have been surprising otherwise.

He's up against it for World Cup selection for a number of reasons. Dodgy hamstrings and calf muscles meant a very limited Super rugby season to impress the All Black selectors while others have been showing great form.

Ben Smith, Charles Piutau and Nehe Milner-Skudder have all shown enough to make strong claims ahead of Dagg who used to be the national fullback.

He was but his form has been splotchy for a while and with the raft of competition and his repeat inability to get on the track, Dagg's time to impress is shrinking.

He was down to business from the off tonight. The shimmy run and offload-forward-delivered his and the All Black intention. He was able to hover up in the line regularly as he and his colleagues looked to prise open the Pumas defences.

That intent was up a peg on the delivery against Samoa. Dagg's passing was neat and one flick offload out the back of his hand another sign his confidence was building.

After the break the All Blacks varied between hot and lukewarm while the Pumas kicked up another coupe of reminders that the All Blacks, as they were against Samoa, are vulnerable to the rolling maul.

There was not a lot for Dagg to do other than range in support, often as a decoy, or to boot the ball for territory or space when the All Blacks needed some relief.

A step forward certainly for the fullback but still some way to go.