“Look, we have all raved about the Super 12 tournament, the Tri-Nations and the South Africa-New Zealand series but these matches have all been played according to the new regulations, so it is not fair to draw comparison with English rugby under the old laws,” he said. “I have already said that we have to take a long hard look at our approach to the game but let’s keep it in perspective.”My first club game under the new laws finished 48-26. It was a breathless affair, hugely exciting to play in and I believe that provided a glimpse into what the forthcoming season holds. It is certainly what the future holds at Wasps, I’ll tell you that now.”If any club has reason to anticipate the new campaign it is Wasps, financially secure, thanks to their purchase by Chris Wright, the multi-millionaire music mogul who owns Queen’s Park Rangers football club and has merged the two sporting concerns into one, Loftus Road plc. “Rugby has to put its best foot forward and that means 10-9 scorelines have to be a thing of the past.”We have one of the biggest rugby populations to draw upon in terms of talent, it’s there for everyone to see It just has to be used properly. Up to now it has not and everyone has got to take the blame for that – coaches and players alike. We all talk about it, but it’s time for the talking to stop.”English rugby has been synonymous with talking in recent times, what with the Rugby Football Union tearing itself apart in the committee room and seemingly inflicting similar damage on the Five Nations’ Championship.

“I have absolutely no doubt that we have the capacity to play the same game as we are seeing in New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. We just have not got the right attitude yet within certain players.”
Dallaglio, 24, knows what it takes to effect change following the events of last season when Sir John Hall’s chequebook tore the heart out of Wasps Or so it was thought. Dallaglio rolled up his sleeves, took charge and put the club back on its feet. Wasps duly finished fourth and qualified for Europe.”English rugby’s problem is that the club culture is so sporadic,” he explained. “There are a number of teams that play negatively, a number who try to play positively but do not have the capacity to do so, and others in between. We have to have the confidence to change the entire attitude to get us all playing the same game.

If we can do that at club level, by the time we join up at international level we will be playing the same game there as well.”Dallaglio insists that this is well within the nation’s compass. He also insists that English rugby no longer has a choice in the matter if it is to survive as a professional sport. “With football having such a remarkable hold on this country’s affections the competition for people’s leisure pound is fierce,” he said. Using the name “Giggsy” on your product is henceforth forbidden. It sounds a very wise precaution by the lads.Unfortunately, I understand that many footballers have been turned away disappointed by the patents people “Dopey” was registered years ago by Walt Disney..

Lawrence Dallaglio has heard the sneers. All summer long European rugby has been denigrated by comparison with its sparkling southern hemisphere counterpart and now the Wasps captain has heard enough. This season, he insists, will see English rugby arrive at the party. “Our problem in England is one of attitude, pure and simple” the heir- apparent to Will Carling said.