I’d like these boys to steal my after-dinner gigs!
ALL THESE years on, Lawrence Dallaglio is as bullish as ever. Sitting in Roppongi assessing England’s chances in the World Cup final this Saturday, the man who won one and lost one believes wholeheartedly that the 2019 team will soon join him in the pantheon. He does not even mind if it means they take some of his after-dinner speaking slots. ‘Listen, if that’s the price I have to pay, then I’d happily pay it,’ he says, confident he will still get gigs regaling tales of 2003. ‘They still pay for personality, I believe!’ As much as he is a pundit — Dallaglio, now 47, will provide insight on the television for Saturday’s final — he is still a supporter of those in white. ‘I’m a massive England rugby fan,’ he confirms. ‘I’m delighted for them. People say, “Is there a part of you that doesn’t want them to eclipse what you did?” It couldn’t be further from the truth. ‘I want them to do it and more. It would be brilliant because it’s a special thing playing for England. To be able to win and achieve that, on the biggest stage, you want to be able to share that with everyone. ‘That’s what it’s all about, really. As soon as you retire you want to go, “Have some of that!” ‘You know what really impresses me about this England team? Usually when you beat the All Blacks, there’s this hysteria at the final whistle like you wouldn’t believe, because it happens about three times a century. ‘Actually, there wasn’t that hysteria at all. The players were quite pleased with themselves and they had every right to be because they were magnificent. But they just sort of gave each other a bit of a hug and then said, “Right, we move on”. That to me showed the maturity of this team.’ If England can complete the job in Yokohama against South Africa, Dallaglio says it will surpass his team’s achievements 16 years ago. ‘They’d have beaten Australia, New Zealand and South Africa,’ explains Dallaglio, speaking on behalf of Land Rover, official worldwide partner of Rugby World Cup 2019. ‘It would probably be one of the best World Cup wins ever.’ He is pretty certain they will win — and is mightily impressed with those playing in his old position, the back row. ‘Amazing,’ is Dallaglio’s assessment of Tom Curry, Sam Underhill and Billy Vunipola. ‘All of them are performing ahead of their time. I was 31 when I played in a World Cup final and had 65 caps — it wasn’t my first rodeo. I’d been through a lot in my career personally. ‘Tom is 21 — I was still doing a paper round then! It’s incredible really. It’s their ability to run and run and run, empty the tank.’ Earlier this week, Dallaglio caught up with another member of the 2007 squad who lost to South Africa in the final. It was Andy Farrell, whose son Owen made quite an impression on the former No 8 all those years ago. ‘He’s been a captain ever since he was born, hasn’t he,’ said Dallaglio of Farrell Jnr. ‘From a very early age, he’s walked around the pitch with his dad and watched him lift trophies in every corner of the globe. He thinks that’s normal. When that’s in your DNA, it’s pretty cool. ‘I remember Owen was babysitting my son that day in 2007 and brought him on to the pitch. About two years later, we turned the TV on, saw Owen playing for Saracens and my son went, “I guess he won’t be babysitting for me any more”. I said, “No, he won’t be, actually. Sorry about that!” On Saturday, the former babysitter could be lifting the Webb Ellis Trophy — and Dallaglio would welcome him into the legends lounge with open arms.
Land Rover is Official Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2019. With over 20 years of heritage supporting rugby at all levels, Land Rover is celebrating what makes rugby rugby. #LandRoverRugby