Lawrence Dallaglio Interview: 'I've been lucky enough to play in some good teams - but my two European Cup winners' medals rank right up there'
.jpg "Lawrence Dallaglio is part of the Premier Sports team bringing all 12 fixtures live from the Investec Champions Cup's second round this weekend.")
Lawrence Dallaglio is part of the Premier Sports team bringing all 12 fixtures live from the Investec Champions Cup's second round this weekend.
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“It is the greatest club competition in the world.”
As a man who captained his side to two European titles, perhaps there is no one better than Lawrence Dallaglio to give a verdict on just how special the Investec Champions Cup truly is.
Last weekend, European rugby returned in all its glory but from an English club perspective, the first round, on the whole, produced a disappointing set of results.
Only Saracens and Northampton Saints came away with victories - against the Bulls and Castres respectively - and Dallaglio shared his thoughts on whether Premiership sides can have an impact on this year’s competition.
“It wasn't the ideal start,” he tells TRU. “There is only four rounds and ideally, you want to win your opening game.
“But there hasn't been a non-French winner for four years [Toulouse and La Rochelle have won it twice] so whilst the people might be saying the Premiership is struggling, no Irish province, no Scottish team or Welsh team has won it either.
“I think the Premiership sides surprised a few people last season with having quite a number of clubs in the last 16 and pushing onto the quarters and semis as well [Northampton and Harlequins reached the last four last year] so I think that’s led to everyone believing that they might do quite well this year.
“But the reality is that I don't think we necessarily have a side that can go on and win it, but I do think we have a side that will challenge, that's for sure.”
One particular Premiership team that did impress in Round One were Saracens, securing a 27-5 victory over the Bulls at home.
Key to that performance was yet another outstanding display from number eight Tom Willis. He recorded some outrageous stats including 22 tackles, nine defenders beaten, and 17 carries, and Dallaglio was full of praise for the young back-rower.
“His stats across, not just this last game but across the whole of the season, have been top drawer. He's first in pretty much every metric you can get for a forward on the pitch.
“I think he’s definitely on the England radar, without a doubt. I think a bit like Mark McCall [Saracens boss]. I'm quite surprised that he hasn't already featured for England a bit more but England have got an embarrassment of riches in the back-row.”
Having played over 80 times in the back row for England, Dallaglio certainly knows what it takes to make it on the international stage.
Willis isn’t the only young English forward who excites him, though, with Northampton Saints starlet Henry Pollock also catching his eye.
Pollock was a key cog in the England Under-20’s World Championship victory in the summer and has already had some outstanding performances for both Northampton Saints and England A this year, including a brilliant try against Castres last weekend.
“Pollock is a good player,” adds Dallaglo, who lifted the World Cup with England just over 21 years ago. “He doesn’t lack confidence or self-belief, which is never a bad thing for a back-row forward, and he’s starting to produce some pretty notable performances.
“I gave him man-of-the-match for England A in the autumn, but it’s early days for him. I’m sure his coaches will be saying; ‘Yes, there’s enormous potential there, but let's start seeing it on a week-to-week basis,’ but he definitely looks one for the future.
“He looks like Neil Back, with a little bit more height and weight on him!”
With the recent addition of the South African sides to the Champions Cup format, as well as the alteration to the pool system, there has been much discussion as to whether or not the competition still holds the aura and legend it once did.
However, despite these rumblings, Dallaglio was clear that the Champions Cup remains the greatest club competition.
“The sound bite has been said many times, but it is the greatest club competition in the world,” he adds. “It's international rugby in a club jersey. It's playing with your mates, week in, week out. For quite a few of those guys, they don't necessarily get to play international rugby.
“We’re lucky enough to sort of pick up the chatter that happens behind the scenes in the clubhouses around the country, speaking to players, and this is the competition they're talking about, the one they get excited about because it's a little bit different.
“It takes you out of your comfort zone. It makes you think slightly differently as a player to challenge you. It challenges you in ways that your own domestic competition doesn't. What the players soon recognise is that if you play well in a couple of these games, you tend to take a big step forward in your career.
“This competition elevates everything in terms of the fans, the venues, and the atmosphere. It's just incredibly exciting.
“I've been lucky enough to play in some good teams, you know, for the British and Irish Lions and England, but I can safely say that my two Heineken Cup winners' medals rank right up there as some of the best moments of my career.”
This year, the Champions Cup has moved broadcast platforms to Premier Sports, where Dallaglio has joined their coverage.
“I think when you have a new broadcaster, it brings fresh momentum, some fresh ideas and excitement to the competition.
“For us as a broadcast team, it is about celebrating what’s out there on the field, and our job is to bring that to life and to try to be the soundtrack for all the people at home, and it's great to be part of it.”
Lawrence Dallaglio is part of the Premier Sports team bringing all 12 fixtures live from the Investec Champions Cup's second round this weekend. Tune in from 7.30pm on Friday night as Sale Sharks v Racing 92 kicks off another big weekend, with six English Premiership teams in action home and away - all live on Premier Sports.
Premier Sports is broadcasting every Investec Champions Cup game live, with 80 games across both the Champions and Challenge Cup competitions available on its channels. Visit www.premiersports.tv @PremSportsTV.
