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"Looking at the team list, they were missing some absolute firepower at the weekend," Dagg told Stan Sport's Rugby Heaven<\/em>.<\/a><\/p>\n "I don't know why they didn't start Taniela Tupou and then (Suliasi) Vunivalu came on and scored two tries, he was absolutely amazing."<\/p>\n Thorn also started key forwards Fraser McReight and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto on his bench against the Highlanders.<\/p>\n "I thought they were going to be a lot better when they played the Landers last week," Dagg said.<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Hi-tech weapon to tackle concussion scourge<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Opening borders no quick fix for Aussie rugby<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> French rugby opens arms to transgender players<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n "I think they were just a little bit flat, defensively they were pretty poor \u2013 I think they missed 26 tackles at 80 per cent tackle success so that's just an attitude shift for me."<\/p>\n The format of the competition means that round two is almost entering do or die territory already for the Australian teams.<\/p>\n The five Aussie and Kiwi sides play each other once before the top two overall (regardless of country) square off in the June 19 final.<\/p>\n The feature game this weekend is Saturday's clash between the Reds and the Aotearoa champion Crusaders at Suncorp Stadium.<\/p>\n "This week at home, in front of 35,000 people, the Queensland community absolutely love them and they'll be a completely different beast this week up against the Crusaders," Dagg said.<\/p>\n "It's not hard to get up when you're playing against the other championship sides like the Crusaders… It is a sprint, it's not a long race here, you've got to start well…<\/p>\n "That first 20-30 minutes is crucial for Australian sides to put pressure on these Kiwi sides. Hopefully we can get a few results otherwise she'll be a long wait for Aussie fans."<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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