Ice and Izzy - life?s a breeze!

reecelightning
| 23 February 2012 12:06 PM
 

Even in the off season it seems our mighty All Blacks are busy boys - BackingBlack recently crossed paths with a few of the lads enjoying the day?s activities at a Telecom and Nokia shoot. While the cameras weren?t rolling, we found a little bit of down time to ask Isaia Toeava and Israel Dagg a few quick-fire questions about life after a massive 2011, what the off season had in store and what their favourite apps are on their smartphones...

*Part one of a two part series, next month will feature Ali Williams, Cory Jane and Sam Whitelock

[BB] What is a typical day off in the life of Ice?

[Isaia Toeava] “Spending time with family and friends, with footy you’re always traveling so it’s nice to have some down time and just chill. I like that the most.”
 
[BB] Israel, what’s your ideal summer’s day off?
 
[Israel Dagg] “Summer day off… That would easily be packing up the boat, putting in the wakeboarding and fishing gear and going up to Lake Waikaremoana. Getting out on the water and chilling out all day, sunbathing and eating... so yeah, just chilling out.”
 
[BB] So do you still get back to the Hawke’s Bay and do you see yourself living there after rugby?
 
[Israel Dagg] “Yep, I was back there for Christmas and had a big break after a massive 2011. As for after rugby, I’m not too sure. I quite like Gizzy, I like it up the East Coast. I’m a small town boy, I don’t like the big smoke and all the traffic and all that so I’ll probably settle down somewhere nice and quiet.”
 
[BB] How about rugby Isaia, what’s required for you to have a breakout All Blacks season and cement your name in starting line up?
 
[Isaia Toeava] “I think just getting fit, that’s the main thing. Getting your diet right, ‘cause you know these island boys aye [chuckles], too much Christmas dinner, we get a little out of hand eating corn beef and taro and stuff like that ya know. So it’s all about getting the diet right and getting fit with some focus.”
 
[BB] What would be your top three stadiums you have played at home and abroad and why?
 
[Isaia Toeava] “My number one stadium has to be Eden Park, ever since I was a young kid I used to watch games there and always wanted to play there. The second should be Cardiff, because that’s where I made my debut for the All Blacks so I have some special memories there for sure. Lastly, Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales - it’s awesome!”
 
[BB] You’re also a sharp cricketer Israel, what are the chances you’ll do a Jeff Wilson and dabble at top-level cricket?
 
[Israel Dagg] “Ummm, that’s a good one. I’ve thought about it but I don’t know if I’d be any good. I’ve played a little backyard cricky with my brothers lately and I’m a bit stiff, probably too many weights in the gym. My upper body might have got a bit big [winks]. I think I’ll stick to rugby.”
 
[BB] How about your idols Ice, who was your favourite player as a kid and what did you admire about them?
 
[Isaia Toeava] “My favourite player was a rugby league player... Steve Renouf. He played for the Broncos and Queensland and he was skinny and quite fast. He was an awesome player and he had this funny as head gear and I remember really liking him. And then when I grew up, and started playing league, I went and bought a head gear just like his, same colour even [laughs].”
 
[BB] Izzy, how important is Telecom’s BackingBlack to you and the team?
 
[Israel Dagg] “It’s choice. We go to heaps of events all over the country and there’s lots of kids around and they all love it. Telecom are really good to us, they provide us with - obviously - a lot of sponsorship which is really important, so BackingBlack I think is pretty awesome for New Zealand rugby.”
 
Phone Essentials...
 
Isaia Toeava
 
Phone: iPhone 4 on Telecom’s Smartphone Network
 
Favourite App: Fruit Ninja, you gotta slice as much fruit as you can under a minute without leaving a bomb! Some of the boys have got some competitions going on, but I’m pretty average at it.
 
Israel Dagg
 
Phone: iPhone 4 on Telecom’s Smartphone Network
 
Favourite App: WhatsApp - texting all my quacker mates... yeah that and Facebook!
 
Who’s number one on Speed dial: My mum, and also my girlfriend [blush].
 
Keep an eye out for the second blog in this two part series as we’ll ask Ali, Cory and Sam a few curly questions!

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