Dallaglio Dilemma - Barnes

Stuart says Lawrence Dallaglio's desire to return for England gives Andy Robinson a tough choice to make.

Lawrence Dallaglio completed a successful comeback against Cardiff Blues last Friday. After four months or so out of the game it was an impressive return. He may have been blowing a bit by full time but clearly none of the charisma has been lost in his time out. None of the determination and self-belief either.

Both are qualities England may well need in abundance when New Zealand arrives on these shores. Yet the door has been closed on Dallaglio, even though he has a month to complete his rehabilitation. The announcement that Martin Corry will captain the side in the autumn internationals is effectively a door slammed in the Wasps face.

True, he is officially retired from England but the messages coming from Wasps have been positive regarding a return to national colours. If Dallaglio is fit and raring the question must be, would Martin Corry, outstanding club player and very fine international that he is, be an automatic selection?

The answer has to be in the negative. Good player Corry may be, Dallaglio is a great. At the end of last season, Wasps' captain looked even sharper than when England won the World Cup. He might have been the main man for the Lions had injury not devastated his trip.
 
Maybe he will force his way back into the team for the Six Nations but, if England fail to perform this autumn, the damage done to confidence may be such that any hopes of a renaissance before the World Cup are dashed.
 
One has to wonder why Andy Robinson felt the need to announce a captain so far from the test matches. Last season he made a similar blunder by appointing a Jonny Wilkinson, short of either form or fitness. The decision hampered the form of Charlie Hodgson who was unable to escape the enveloping aura of the Newcastle man.

It was an unfortunate tactical error and one that may be repeated if Dallaglio is at full tilt by November. His performance against Sebastian Chabal and Sale on Friday night will be closely watched - just as Wilkinson's hour off the bench at Stradey Park was last Sunday.
 
He was, by and large very sharp, far less hesitant than last season which is probably no coincidence. Finally club and country coach have stopped treating him like a deity whose presence at the epicentre of England cannot be questioned and more like any other player who is fighting back from a series of savage injuries and bad luck.
 
Out of the limelight he seems to be quietly reassembling himself. He will need to if he is to regain his England spot because Hodgson is playing with smooth assurance. But the thought of these two battling fairly on form for the ten berth should lift both their games and that is something that can boost the ailing World champions.
 
Both these English legends should be closely watched this next month. Wilkinson, like Dallaglio, has a tough assignment with Leicester lying in wait. If he comes through that one well, we can start to really consider the return of the man who once ruled the roost. It all makes for a tantalising weekend. Enjoy it.
 
Now to this week's post..

Have a great week, Stuart Barnes.

Prosaic power v poetry of pace

Barnsey, What is your opinion on your old coach, Brian Ashton's view that the game in England has become an 'Anglicised version of American Football, where the gym culture dominates, producing fitter stronger players but not more agile or quicker. Safety first rugby is the key requirement' I have been increasingly disenchanted with the 'collision and contact' culture in the Premiership. I regularly go to watch Sale and even they don't make the best decisions on when or where to use Mr Chabal or Mr Sheridan. Surely the recent Powergen Cup games involving the Welsh clubs highlight the paucity of good back play and ambitious rugby in the Premiership. I hate to say it but the Welsh lads played nearly all the clever skilful rugby, unloading out of contact and making huge in roads on the counter attack. I saw most of the four games televised this weekend and take for example Gloucester, they had a five-man overlap on the Ospreys line for what seemed like hours on Saturday and even with Paul, Simpson-Daniel and Tindall lined up outside seemed apparently clueless in scoring what for the Welsh or certainly the AB's would have been meat and drink. Only Sale, Wasps and occasionally Leicester play smart, heads-up football with the ball in hand. The rest seemed coached only in organisation and playing by numbers. What do you and Dewi think, watching the number of games you guys do. Kind regards, Peter Collins, Manchester.
 
Stuart says: Peter, This is an issue where I would like to say that Brian and I have long been singing off the same hymn sheet but I am not a great one for religion so I'll leave that cliché aside. Generally it is a point that has concerned me for a few years and no doubt, the best three teams in England, are by far, the most positive. Power is the key ingredient and recognition of many of the basics have fallen by the wayside in recent years, so to that extent, it is impossible to disagree with Brian. Our running lines and ability to nail an overlap is less than average. You mention Gloucester, all three you named are internationals but only one, JSD, has adequate basic union back skills. It is not pretty BUT there has been substantial improvement in one key area which is the offloading in the tackle. That is speeding the game up and improving a crucial facet of the game. Saracens have been particularly adept in this area and I thought Danny Grewcock showed up well versus the Ospreys when it came to offloading. I would not make too many judgements on the basis of English teams in the Powergen Cup, mentally most of them are not at the races.

Central Contracts, Club versus Country

Could not this issue be simply sorted out to the benefit of all involved by introducing a simlilar plan to that Rob Andrew proposed some time ago; restructure the season globally: Guiness Premiership from September to February; Heineken Cup in March/April (or some mix of competitions); Internationals, 6 Nations and Tours from April to June. Premiership players not involved with Europe or Internationals benefit with a longer rest period whilst World Cups and Lions tours would have to be properly scheduled. Regards, Neil Underwood, Luxembourg.
 
Stuart says: Neil, If only it could. but you still have problems like proper rest periods for internationals. The Guinness Premiership is the guts of the English professional game and to see so many games minus the elite does not have a positive impact on that tournament. Also, where are the autumn internationals if this schedule? They are regarded as vital for both team development and finances and this is the window in which the Southern Hemisphere can travel... I wish it was simple but it is not.

Dallaglio's decision

Hi Stuart, I am mystified as to the turnaround of one Lawrence Dallaglio to return to International rugby. Once he retired he consistently said he wanted to go on the Lions tour now that it's over he wishes to return. Did he turn his back on England to pursue his own ends and now to return? As we all know Lawrence is very good at manipulating the media but isn't it amazing they have not picked up on this, or am I being cynical Irish. Regards, John O'Gorman.
 
Stuart says: John, I think you are being a little cynical here. A sportsman has a right to change his mind in life as much as the next man and I suspect Dallaglio's frustration over the Lions injury and his rampant form for club last term has convinced him he made an error of judgement. Were I Andy Robinson, I would welcome him back with open arms should he convincingly complete his return from injury.

New guard up front 

Hi Stuart, I've been reading your comments about the English front row.  So, with the dropping of White and Rowntree who would you recommend takes their place on current form? Chris Andrews, Wokingham.

Stuart says: Chris, Andrew Sheridan is a nailed on certainty and there is not much wrong with Matt Stevens current from at Bath. Throw a recuperating (but far from 100%) Phil Vickery into the equation with a vastly improved Perry Freshwater (should all English props go to France for a scrummage education?) and you have a mobile and physical unit.

Thanks for some fascinating questions and ideas this week, keep them coming. Have an enjoyable week, Stuart Barnes