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MARSEILLE - Former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio conceded today that he had lost his chance of re-establishing himself as the first choice number eight through his performance in the opening World Cup game.
The world champions announce their side on later today for Saturday's quarter-final against the losing 2003 finalists Australia.
"Everyone wants to be in the starting lineup," he told reporters. "I had one chance and I blew the opportunity in the first game against America. I was given the chance to run out in the jersey first time around and I don't blame anyone but myself.
"I have to be patient for the next chance to come around."
Time, however, is not on the side of the 35-year-old, the only man to play every minute of every game at the last World Cup, and who came out of international retirement two years ago.
He forced his way back into the squad but, though the granite-jawed obstinacy remains, there have been few of his former trademark charges from the base of the scrum and he now looks to have fallen behind the more dynamic Nick Easter in the number eight pecking order.
After a flat performance in the opening game against the United States, Dallaglio was left out of the squads to face South Africa and Samoa before forcing his way back on to the bench, and later the field, against Tonga last week.
"Thus far it hasn't really happened, it only happened off the bench," he said.
"I'm not sure if the team has been selected yet but whether I start or come off the bench or don't get involved at all I have to play my part.
"It would be a great game to run out and start but if that's not to be I look forward to whatever part I can play. World Cups are not won by one person, they are won by 30."
Dallaglio has seen Australia close up as much as anyone in the England set-up and recognises the difficult obstacle they present.
"They are a very good tournament team, very good in the World Cup, the only team to win it twice and always there or thereabouts," he said.
"They are a bright side who are adept at holding onto the ball. They have experience in their team and young players coming through and are competitive in the scrum and lineout.
"We won in 2005, they won twice in 2006 and it is 2-2 in the World Cup but we all know that the performance needed to beat Australia is better than anything we've seen from England in the World Cup so far."
That 2005 victory for England was something of a turning point for the Wallabies as they went home to address the problems in the scrum that were shown up almost to the point of embarrassment at Twickenham.
Dallaglio was still on the outside at the time but prop Andrew Sheridan played a man-of-the match role in destroying the Australian front row in his first England start and what was probably the high water mark of the troubled reign of former coach Andy Robinson.
Sheridan, though, said that the 2005 game was an irrelevance.
"They've put a lot of work in and I expect a big challenge," said the giant loosehead. "It's about the here and now. There's no point looking back and patting yourself on the back for what happened two years ago. We know we've got to put in a big performance not just in the set pieces, but all over the park."
- REUTERS
