Dallaglio: England must earn All Blacks’ respect

ENGLAND skipper Lawrence Dallaglio last night left his players in no doubt what he expects from them when they embark on a second Test salvage mission against the All Blacks.

And Dallaglio wants the world champions to have earned respect by the time they leave New Zealand next Sunday and head for a World Cup final rematch with Australia.

England's 36-3 first Test drubbing in Dunedin their heaviest defeat in six years prompted coach Clive Woodward to axe almost half the team.

Neither coach nor captain will tolerate a repeat showing at Eden Park on Saturday, even though the odds are stacked against England on a ground where New Zealand haven't lost since France beat them 23-20 in 1994.

"I think the most important thing is for people to go away and contemplate which they have had time to do now and understand what putting on a white jersey means to them," said Dallaglio, who will win his 72nd cap and move joint-fourth alongside Will Carling on England's all-time appearance chart.

"If they don't want to continue pulling on a white shirt, then I think their performance will speak for itself.

"No-one takes any prisoners over here. We know that we are not incredibly popular, and we accept that. People are entitled to their opinion.

"What I find very unpopular is us not playing to a level that I think you should do every time you pull on a shirt."

"The team that won the World Cup came through many tests, some very well and some not so well, but I think they learnt the lessons and went on to become a very strong side.

"This team has to go through those tests, and last weekend was one of those. As long as we learn very quickly, and we leave New Zealand with the feeling we have some respect in terms of the way we play rugby, then I will be happy. I don't believe we can say we have that respect, because we haven't earned it yet."

Scotland coach Matt Williams will name his team to play Australia tomorrow still uncertain whether one, either of his first-choice lock forwards will be available to start at Sydney's Telstra Stadium on Saturday.

The confusion has been caused by the suspension handed down to Stuart Grimes for "trampling" on Australian number eight David Lyons and a serious hip injury to captain Scott Murray.

Grimes will have his appeal against the two-match ban heard tomorrow, but not until five hours after Williams is set to confirm his 22-man squad, while Murray is not yet certain to be match-fit by Saturday, though his condition has improved.

Both men are set be named in the starting line-up nonetheless, but the situation has forced Williams to try out all his options in training, with Iain Fullarton and Craig Hamilton having to prepare themselves for the possibility of a Test start.

"We feel the replacement locks we have got are good players," said Williams.

"That is one of the big benefits of being on tour, they have been playing and not sitting on their backsides and they have been playing our systems."