Dawson plays down age factor as England stutter

MATT DAWSON yesterday admitted England had hit a plateau just as the French appeared to be surging towards their peak.

But the England scrum-half dismissed talk that the older members of Clive Woodward’s 30-man squad, who make up the experienced bulk of the side, were feeling their age in a World Cup at which they have been some distance short of the form they demonstrated in beating Australia and New Zealand on their own soil six months ago.

So far England, in reaching their semi-final showdown against France next Sunday, have struggled against South Africa, Samoa and Wales last weekend, where only the boot of Jonny Wilkinson reversed a try-count of 3-1 in favour of the Welsh.