The patient English

Dallaglio returns to the fray after 18 months on sidelines

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England play New Zealand, Australia and South Africa on consecutive weekens in November and one player is returning to the side after almost 18 months on the sidelines. Rugby World Magazine spoke to Lawrence Dallaglio.

Remember Lawrence Dallaglio? Sounds a crazy question, really -- that is, until you consider the facts. Apart from a two-minute appearance off the bench for England against Italy in April, the last time we saw him in an international shirt was March 2001 which, in test terms, is a long, long time ago.

We would have seen him captaining England on their victorious, one-Test tour to Argentina last summer, but a finger injury that required surgery forced his late withdrawal from the squad. We would almost certainly have seen him on the international stage during the preceding Six Nations, the winning, three-Test autumn series in 2001, and the three Lions Test matches in Australia in the summer before, had it not been for long-term injury acquired initially in the Zurich Championship playoff match against Bath, and then worsened during a couple of provincial games early on in the Lions tour.

Instead, we have to fast forward to today, where we find a new Dallaglio in many ways, a Dallaglio forced to examine himself, his career and what he intends to get out of it. All this is for the good, but England supporters will be heartened to know that the fire that has always raged inside his make-up is burning brightly. Take this little offering as an example.

"Now that we're all back on an even keel, don't expect any favors from me, I can assure you," he says, referring to the scrap for selection for the compelling southern hemisphere triple header coming our way this month at Twickenham.

And, as a second sample of evidence, I offer you this.

"I am absolutely champing at the bit," Dallaglio adds. "Having to pull out of the Argentina tour was a big blow, especially as I'd been asked to captain the side. I've been waiting far too long to get back into action. Being forced to watch rugby for so long, especially as Wasps were losing quite a bit last season -- and England too, when it mattered, in Dublin and then in Paris - was very hard for me to do. The positive from all this is that I've had time to realize how much I love playing rugby, and what I hope to achieve from the rest of my career. In that sense it's been good for me.

"I'd been playing top-class rugby seemingly forever, and suddenly being without it not only made me appreciate the game but also gave me a rest which I'm convinced will put me in good stead from now on. I realized this when I came back with Wasps at the end of last season. The truth was that although I'd bulked up to become both heavier and stronger, I was definitely lacking sharpness. I managed to get away with it when I played because most of the guys in the Zurich Premiership were exhausted come the end of the season. The Lions players, especially, were running on empty.

"The extended pre-season for me has left me feeling better than I've ever done, and allowed me time to regain my speed. I needed to, as well, because the competition for places with England is tougher than ever before. I was delighted to see Joe Worsley, my clubmate, do so well in my absence with England, partly because I always want England to do well, but also because the better he plays, the better I have to play. That can only be good for both England and for me."

But not necessarily so for New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, who come to fortress Twickenham looking to score some early psychological blows before the World Cup in 11 months' time.

Dallaglio's not assuming anything when it comes to selection. "It will come down mainly to form, with a bit of knowledge of those who can produce the goods against the big three from the southern hemisphere," he suggests.

But he is desperate to be lining up at Twickenham, make no mistake. "I'd love to be a part of it," he explains. "It feels like an eternity since I did anything meaningful for England. Clive Woodward and the coaches have been exceptionally good to me, in that I've been invited along to every training session and not just been left on the sidelines, but the fact remains that I have some personal reasons for wanting to face the Tri-Nations teams."

Which are what, exactly?

"Well, I've never beaten New Zealand in a test match for a start," he says. "I've only faced them three times -- the draw and defeat in 1997, and the World Cup group defeat in 1999 -- and I'd love to be a part of an England team that finally sees them off. That World Cup defeat was down to two factors: we didn't actually play that well on the day, and Jonah Lomu conjured up one moment that no other player in the world at the time could have produced. Statistically the All Blacks remain the one team we haven't beaten, but that's down to the lack of fixtures between us. We have to be confident because we're playing at Twickenham and we've grown used to beating the southern hemisphere now, although their coach, John Mitchell [the former England coach], will clearly know a thing or two about us."

And Australia? "The Lions tour was a huge, personal disappointment. I missed out on the Tests completely and in the two provincial games I featured in I was a pale shadow of the player I can be. I feel as though I have a lot to prove to Australia. They'll be really up for the game, too. It will have needled them that they've lost on both their last two visits to Twickenham, and after the Lions tour especially, they will have a lot of respect for us."

Which leaves South Africa, whom England face in their World Cup group in October 2003. "The Springboks have definitely been in a transitional stage and look to be coming out of it now," is Dallaglio's argument.

"Look how competitive they were in the Tri-Nations. And look how much young talent has emerged in the past year. If we fall anywhere below our best they, like the others, will beat us."

Does it mean anything with regard to the World Cup, however, or is it enough that they are huge test matches that need to be won?

"The South Africa we play in Perth next October could be a totally different group of players, and so could we be. The game's not at Twickenham, not even in the same country, and in a totally different environment. And both of us would happily settle for defeat this year if it meant a win in Perth. So, no, I can't see how too many psychological points can be scored here or against New Zealand or Australia.

"We have 14 Test matches between now and the World Cup. In terms of time it's not too long before the tournament begins, but in terms of matches it is an eternity. I think I have to always look at the next match and concentrate on gaining selection. We've all got half an eye on the World Cup, but focusing on that now would be a big mistake. Where we can benefit, however, is in the manner in which we beat the Tri-Nations countries this autumn. The result always has to be the bottom line, and we'll always take any manner of victory over a well-played defeat, but I'd like to see a cutting edge and a ruthlessness about us against these teams. I'd like us to reveal a real killer instinct because, believe it or not, I don't think the England team has come anywhere near to fulfilling its potential just yet."

Can they achieve this in November? Dallaglio cannot answer this but he can, at least, see how much England have moved on even during his time out of the game.

"Now we can safely say that from one to 15 we have more than enough cover. It means, regardless of who you are, and what you've done before, no one's name is already down on the team sheet for this autumn. The result is that there is nobody who is indispensable in the team. It wasn't that long ago when losing someone like Martin Johnson or Jonny Wilkinson would have been a massive blow. Now we have world-class people able to step in, and it is the same in every position.

"We're on course, for sure, but there are at least two hurdles to clear. Having always been good when our backs have been up against the wall, we need to show that we are comfortable at being favourites against anyone. And we need to start securing wins, not only away from home -- which is why the Tests in New Zealand and Australia next June have more bearing than the utumn Internationals at home -- but particularly in championship games. We've played some magnificent rugby these past few years, but we are well aware we've lost a few of the most important games.

"We're going to find out a lot about how good this England team can be over the next 11 months for sure, so we may as well start as we mean to go on against the All Blacks. They are the Tri-Nations champions after all, so that makes them the best team in the world."

And we'll also be finding out a lot about Lawrence Dallaglio. Will he return as a global force in the game? Time will tell but his parting word gives you a clue.

"Actually, when I said New Zealand are the best team in the world because they are the Tri-Nations champions, I meant that they must be the best team in the southern hemisphere."

As for the world? Well, let's just wait and see.

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