Dallaglio wants ruthless England to show Georgia no mercy

LAWRENCE Dallaglio has always lived by the maxim that you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

And that is exactly what he is urging England to do, when they kick off their World Cup campaign against Georgia in the Subiaco stadium tomorrow.

The inexperienced men of Georgia who are making their first appearance at a World Cup, have never faced England before, and could be on the receiving end of a cricket score but there is no room for England complacency, or compassion.

"Sunday is all about putting down a marker about what we're about," says Dallaglio, relaxing deep inside the calm of England's hotel base.

"I'm looking forward to this World Cup even more than the last one. I'm very excited and everyone has got that sense of wanting to get on with that first game.

"We've all worked incredibly hard and we must take that onto the pitch because it's vital to make sure we play well right from the start."

If that means England's strongest team humiliating humble Georgia then that's fine with Dallaglio because, along with every member of Clive Woodward's 30-man squad, he is desperate to see England's ruthless machine of the past 12 months perform on the sport's most prestigious stage.

"Things have changed massively from four years ago," says Dallaglio, recalling the pain of England's quarter-final defeat against South Africa in Paris, when a world record five drop goals from fly-half Jannes De Beer destroyed home hopes.

"This squad is wholly different, and everyone is much more experienced. Clubs are much more professional, and the coaches are better.

"We've also got the benefit of momentum and confidence. With what's happened over the last 12 months we're under no illusions that we're going in as favourites to win the competition. We've become accustomed to that and we operate better when we put pressure on ourselves.

"It's quite novel that we have a team at a World Cup expecting to do very, very well. And yes, it's difficult to have a target other than winning the competition. But, whatever happens, we have to play to our potential. At times we haven't done that. If we play to our potential it would take a very good side to beat us."

That potential saw England win 13 consecutive Tests last season, beating New Zealand, South Africa and Australia at Twickenham, winning the Six Nations Grand Slam, and following it up with a tour Down Under during which they defeated the All Blacks for the first time in 30 years on home territory, and Australia for the first time ever on their own soil.

It saw them climb to the top of the rugby world rankings, and if a tweaked hamstring kept Dallaglio out of England's three warm-up matches, one against Wales and two against France, then it has only heightened his desire to charge out of the blocks against Georgia.

"We've been very game-related in training," explains Dallaglio. "It's always intense, but this week it has been especially tasty, which I prefer because it means the training sessions are shorter. If it's not so intense things tend to go on a little longer."

He dismisses the Australian-led 'Dad's Army' jibes aimed at England's pack, four of whom on Sunday are over 30, including himself at 31.

"Age is not something we bite at," he says. "If you're not the best you're not going to get picked. Everyone in this squad knows that everyone has got a chance of playing in every game."

Everyone attached to this England squad also knows they have a realistic chance of getting their hands on that Webb Ellis trophy. That would make some big impression.