Gough’s New role
Captain Farrell is the real deal for Dallaglio
FORMER pace ace Darren Gough has been hired as England’s fast-bowling coach.
With Chris Silverwood moving into the head coach hotseat, England are searching for a new full-time bowling expert.
But until they find one, they will look to Gough, 49, to pass on his knowledge ahead of the Test series in New Zealand next month.
The ex-England star said: “I very much look forward to working with all the bowlers.” AUSTRALIAN Lisa Keightley has been appointed as the first female head coach of England women’s team.
OWEN FARRELL will lead England out in Yokohama for the World Cup final on Saturday but he has already been on the field at one – as a teenage babysitter.
The setting was the Stade de France, Paris, the year was 2007 – England’s last appearance in a World Cup final and Farrell was looking after Lawrence Dallaglio’s little boy.
Dallaglio was a replacement against South Africa that day so he left his five-year-old son Enzo in the capable hands of squadmate Andy Farrell’s helpful son who had designs on becoming a rugby player himself one day.
“I remember Owen was babysitting my son that day and brought him on to the pitch,” recalled Dallaglio, 47.
“About two years later we turned the TV on and there he was playing. 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.’ I caught up with his father this week. His team (Ireland) obviously haven’t achieved what he would have liked them to.
“But he can now just be a very proud parent, with his wife, and watch his son hopefully go on and achieve something very, very special.”
This England team seems so much Farrell Jnr’s now that it is easy to forget he has only been skipper for less than a year.
Appointed as co-captain for the 2018 autumn internationals with Dylan Hartley, it was only the hooker’s knee issues which opened the way for his permanent appointment.
There were question marks over whether his fiery temperament would suit the role.
But, while he has not played his best rugby in Japan, as a leader he has looked very much the part.
A chip off the old block, in fact, as the son of an ex-Great Britain rugby league leader.
“I think he’s been a captain ever since he was born,” said Dallaglio. “He’s probably heard moves even before he was born.
“From a very early age he’s walked around the pitch with his dad and watched his dad lift trophies in every corner of the globe.
“He thinks that’s normal. So when that’s in your DNA then it’s pretty cool. He’s just a real warrior.” Farrell, 28, is 80 minutes from lifting from NEIL SQUIRES in Tokyo
the Webb Ellis Cup after England’s epic semifinal win against the All Blacks on Saturday, which Dallaglio rated as “breathtakingly good”.
But the 2003 World Cup winner is warning that the South Africa side will be no pushovers in the final.
“I made my debut in South Africa and I finished playing in the World Cup final against them,” said Dallaglio, speaking on behalf of Land Rover, Official Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2019.
“There’s never been, in rugby, a greater physical challenge than the one that they set. You just look at them and go, ‘Wow, what are you guys eating over there?’ They are huge.
“South Africa are not easy on the eye, let’s be honest, but they’ve only conceded four tries – and two of them were in the first game against New Zealand. They are really tough to beat.”
But if England complete the job, Dallaglio
(inset) believes this will go down as a triumph for the ages.
He added: “If they win this tournament, it would probably be one of the best World Cup wins ever.” go on and