Dallaglio planning to banish blues

LAWRENCE DALLAGLIO goes into England’s World Cup showdown against Wales tomorrow (10am Irish time) planning to banish once and for all the memory of the biggest mistake of his international career.

England have beaten Wales in 10 of their last 11 meetings but it is that fateful day at Wembley back in 1999 which still haunts Dallaglio.

It was Dallaglio, England captain at the time, who took the decision to opt to kick for touch to keep the pressure on the Welsh in the last 10 minutes when an easy three-points penalty looked there for the taking.

Minutes later when Scott Gibbs had slalomed his way through the English defence for a brilliant Welsh try and Neil Jenkins had added the conversion to take Wales to a one-point triumph: "I was captain on the day and I have to accept a lot of the responsibility for that decision," he admits.

"But discipline and the number of penalties we gave away were other factors. I'd like to think that as a captain and a player that I learned a great deal from that game.

"No, it wasn't my best decision because ultimately everyone can point to that decision and say it cost England the Grand Slam."

England's penalty count is again a huge cause for concern. So far they have conceded 49 penalties joint worst with South Africa of the teams contesting the quarter-finals.

With Wales possessing a world class goalkicker in fly-half Stephen Jones any indiscipline is bound to be severely punished.

Dallaglio is certain that, after four games in which England have failed to reach the peaks of their summer triumphs against Australia and New Zealand, they are at last ready to slip into top gear with perfect timing.

"You've got to accept criticism," said Dallaglio. "We all know we can play a lot better. It's the measure people have got of England that we can beat a side like South Africa by 19 points and raise so many questions about the performance.

"I've seen a lot of World Cups where a lot of sides have played their best rugby at the beginning of the tournament and not ended up with the trophy."

Not that Dallaglio is taking anything for granted against a Wales side which scored four tries in a stirring 53-37 defeat against New Zealand last weekend - a performance which has given what appeared to be the most routine clash the spiciest of edges.

"I'd be spinning it if I tried to say England weren't massive favourites but if you don't get things right in a one-off game the result can go against you," said Dallaglio.

Wales coach Steve Hansen has made four changes to his starting line-up for the quarter-final.

And that includes a first Test match start at full-back for Gareth Thomas, who is just one try short of equalling Ieuan Evans' all-time Welsh international try-scoring record.

Thomas, normally a wing or centre, takes over from the concussed Garan Evans following last weekend's outstanding performance against New Zealand.

Elsewhere, Llanelli wing Mark Jones is preferred to Tom Shanklin, and Iestyn Harris returns alongside midfield partner Mark Taylor.

ENGLAND: J Lewsey; J Robinson, W Greenwood, M Tindall, B Cohen, J Wilkinson, M Dawson; J Leonard, S Thompson, P Vickery, M Johnson (capt), B Kay, L Moody, N Back, L Dallaglio.

Replacements: D West, T Woodman, S Shaw, J Worsley, K Bracken, M Catt, I Balshaw.

WALES: G Thomas; M Jones, M Taylor, I Harris, S Williams; S Jones, G Cooper; I Thomas, R McBryde, A Jones; B Cockbain, R Sidoli; D Jones, C Charvis (capt), J Thomas.

Replacements: M Davies, G Jenkins, G Llewellyn, M Williams, D Peel, C Sweeney, K Morgan.