Dallaglio: 'You'd be lying if you said there wasn't a gap to bridge'
“We all trade in this unique currency called honest conversations and I think there will be an honest conversation in the England camp that they have a couple of levels to go yet before they can be in the same conversation as some of those other teams.”
That is an ethos no one would have any hesitation in believing underpinned Lawrence Dallaglio’s entire career as he reached the apex of the sport, be it with Wasps, England or the British & Irish Lions.
As a leader and stalwart in every one of those teams, he knows what is required to be part of an all-conquering outfit and can see where Eddie Jones’ side are currently falling short. But while he clearly feels a gap has emerged between England and the top teams in the world, he has every confidence that Jones and his squad have it in their armoury to catch up.
England opened their Autumn Nations Series with an insipid 30-29 loss to Argentina at Twickenham at the beginning of the month, which came after a series win over Australia in July where they lost the first Test, and opening day defeats in three consecutive Six Nations campaigns. Speaking to RugbyPass this week, the former No.8 said that that is a trend that needs arresting quickly, but said there was a marked improvement in the 52-13 win over Japan on Saturday ahead of Tests against the All Blacks and South Africa, who, alongside France and Ireland, he feels are the sides England need to catch up to with less than a year until the World Cup.
“England have had a slow start yet again to a campaign,” the World Cup winner said. “It’s becoming a bit of a trend, and one that they need to sort out to be honest, because it’s cost them any chance of putting a decent set of results together. But I think we would all agree that it was a much improved performance against Japan.
“For some reason Japan didn’t necessarily put their best foot forward in terms of the quality that they can produce. They’d only played five test matches this year, which is maybe one of the reasons why they weren’t able to replicate the sort of performance that we’d expect. But take nothing away from England, it was a much better performance. The pack was starting to really take shape and obviously the standout performances from [Jack] van Poortvliet and [Freddie] Steward at fullback give England a lot of optimism. But I think we all know that really, in terms of the next 12 months, they’ll take a lot more confidence if they can repeat that sort of performance against New Zealand and South Africa, who are still right up there as the best sides in the world.
“What France and Ireland are doing has been a step above anything that England, Wales or Scotland have produced in recent months. You’d be lying if you said that there wasn’t a gap to bridge at the moment but I’m sure England and Eddie Jones and everyone involved have got a plan and a bit of time to bridge that gap. If the World Cup was today, England would be a long way off being favourites for it. But it’s not today, and that’s a good thing for them because they’ve still got a little way to go on in terms of finding their best XV, finding their best rugby and their best form. The stuff we’ve seen from Ireland and France in more recent weeks it’s been a cut above really and I think you’d have to be looking at life through rose-tinted spectacles if you thought any differently, you can’t hide from the truth.”
Jones has not shied away from the fact that his eyes are firmly fixed on the World Cup next year, but as a player who tasted the whole gamut of World Cup cycles – underachieving hopefuls in 1999, victorious favourites in 2003 and overachieving underdogs in 2007 – Dallaglio is acutely aware of how important the next two weeks are for England in making a statement that they are able to compete with the very best.
“We all trade in this unique currency called honest conversations and I think it will be an honest conversation in the England camp that they have a couple of levels to go yet before they can be in the same conversation as some of those other teams,” he said.
“But they are in the same conversation as New Zealand and South Africa over the next couple of weeks and what that does is present England with an opportunity to find out where they are. We’d like to judge them over four matches but ultimately, in the context of next year’s tournament, it’s really the last two that everyone is concerned about.
“England need some confidence and belief that they can turn up against the best sides in the world. Many people were quick to discuss the demise of the All Blacks, but they look a pretty good side to me. Yeah, they’ve had some setbacks, losing to Argentina at home, but they still ended up with the Rugby Championship trophy in their cabinet. They’ve come over here and they’ve not looked unbeatable but they’ve not looked too bad either. So England have got to prove to themselves that they are good enough to replicate what’s going to be required to win a World Cup, which is to win what used to be seven games, although South Africa made it six. You need that consistency at the very highest level.
“So far, in the last couple of years, whilst England are still capable of the big one off performances, they haven’t managed to put that consistency together. That’s not a criticism, it’s just a fact. So I think what England need is maybe a few of those combinations to start to materialise, and I appreciate and accept that picking the same team every week is not easy these days for any international coach because of the workload and the injuries etc. but the selection itself will be fascinating because England are still searching for that magic that has alluded them since maybe even as far back as the last World Cup.
“But I would say if they want to really build themselves towards the Six Nations next year, and the World Cup at the end of the year, then they really need to show themselves, if not the nation and everyone else, that they’re capable of performing on the biggest stage of all at a different level to what we’ve seen so far in this campaign. Hopefully the quality of the opposition in front of them will bring out the best in them because if you don’t turn up with the right tools against the guys in black and green, you’re going to be in a bit of trouble.
“As I said, I always liked to trade in honest conversations and deal in honest conversations, and if I was a England player, there would be a couple times amongst the group that I’d say there is a level that we’re all capable of performing, and if we want to win against New Zealand and if we want to win against South Africa, then we’re going to have to perform. And it’s well within the team, that’s the exciting thing for England fans, they’ve got players who have been there and beaten those opponents on more than one occasion. I think when you’ve got that in your locker, then you’ve got a great chance of producing it.
“That’s the challenge that they’ve got. How do they elevate their own performances to a level that takes them to the best teams in the world? Because if they’re having the honest conversations, which I’m sure they are, there’s a way to go yet.”
The former England captain is not alone in hoping some of Jones’ combinations and positional changes bear fruit. The eternal discussion amongst the England fandom concerns the Australian’s choice to play Owen Farrell at inside centre alongside Marcus Smith, and one of Maro Itoje or Courtney Lawes at blindside flanker.
Though Dallaglio has no doubt Jones knows how he wants his team to look, he has a clear philosophy when it comes to selection.
“The best teams that Eddie Jones has ever selected and the best results he’s ever produced have been with Farrell at No.10, [Manu] Tuilagi at No.12 and [Henry] Slade at No.13, and with Itoje in the second-row,” the 85-cap Englishman said. “So there are some interesting selections ahead, knowing when to stick or when to twist with certain players and certain combinations, which is why coaches are paid the big bucks.
“It’s a conundrum, really. I’m sure Eddie’s got a plan and an idea of where he’s heading with the selection but I always find that most players, and I don’t think the game has changed enormously, would like to play in the positions that they play in most weeks. I know Itoje can play No.6, of course he can, he’s a very, very capable player, but if I think about his best ever performances, they’ve always been at second-row and if I think of Farrell’s best performances, they’ve always been at No.10. But it’s not my job to pick the team, is it?
“I think trust and consistency are two of the core ingredients required for success, for sustained success, and those will be the ingredients I’ll be looking for over the next twelve months- trusting certain players to deliver and getting that consistent message. It’s up to the players to put a bit of pressure on themselves as well and to deliver against the best opposition.”
While Jones’ selection has been under scrutiny in recent seasons, so to has his proclivity to chop and change his coaching setup. Brett Hodgson’s arrival to replace Anthony Seibold as England’s defence coach after this campaign will mark Jones’ third defence coach in this World Cup cycle alone. From his own experience with Wasps and England, Dallaglio explained the difficulties that come from this lack of continuity.
“I can’t really comment on the criteria for coaching, what Eddie’s looking for, or whatever, but what I would say is that he’s been in charge for seven years now and in that time there’s been a lot of change in the coaching structure,” he said.
“Consistency of message is really important, and it’s very hard to be consistent when you have a revolving door with your staff and with your team. But that’s where we are at the moment, and if Eddie feels there’s a change required, then there’s a change required. So whatever’s been happening previously, it’s not necessarily given us the results that we want. As long as we get the results we want, then I guess that change will be the right change.
“But we’ve got only a number of games now to go, so whatever messages are being put across, the players need to be part of that, they need to take on that leadership role as well and need to make sure that they’re getting the best out of themselves.”
Looking ahead to the World Cup in ten months, Dallaglio feels this is a golden opportunity for a northern hemisphere side to bag the Webb Ellis Cup for only the second time.
“I don’t think the two hemispheres have ever been as close in rugby terms as they are right now,” said Dallaglio, whose England side topped the world rankings in 2003.
“There’s a long way to go, but two out of the four of the highest rank teams in the world are currently from the northern hemisphere in Ireland and France, with England fifth now. So it’s pretty even at a minute. Now, if you’re if you’re betting man, you probably say that six of the nine World Cups have been won by South Africa or New Zealand and therefore those two are going to have a pretty big say what happens in France next year.
“But with a lot of confidence, I don’t think there’s ever been a better opportunity for one of the northern hemisphere teams to get their name on that trophy. There’s a fair bit of play before then though.”
Lawrence has joined Caduceus – a metaverse technology partner dedicated to sports & entertainment development – as their Brand Ambassador
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Comments on RugbyPass
An on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
24 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
24 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
24 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
24 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
11 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to comments