Crusaders and All Blacks winger Israel Dagg says his return from a knee injury gave him serious butterflies - even though he was playing club rugby first before even thinking about Super Rugby.
Dagg got back out on a rugby field for the first time since September last year two weeks ago for his university club team having overcome rehabilitation for surgery and therapy on his knee.
"I was really nervous," he said. "I couldn't even eat."
Dagg admitted using stem cells to help repair his knee which meant he also had to change his running style.
"I have got no cartilage in my knee, so every time I jump it is just bone on bone; it just bruises, releases fluid," he explained.
"It would be alright if I just had to trundle around, but I have got to be explosive. But I am through it now, I am on the other side. I have just got to keep positive and deal with the new normal.
"I am not my old self, but I can still play footy. That is the main thing."
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