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The 'unique' communicator Dallaglio insists England must recruit

(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Ex-England back-rower Lawrence Dallaglio has called on the RFU to lure Shaun Edwards away from France and get him working with his native country. The defence specialist has carved out a fabulous reputation for himself over the years, switching from a star-studded career as a Wigan rugby league player to coaching Wasps and Wales to numerous trophies. 

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Edwards now stands on the cusp of helping France to clinch the 2022 Six Nations Grand Slam with a win over England on Saturday night. It would be a first clean sweep in the tournament for the French since 2010 if they manage to do the business and Dallaglio, in advance of the game, has issued a reminder to the RFU that Edwards is English and must one day work for his country rather than rival nations.   

Writing in his latest Evening Standard column about Edwards, who is contracted with France until World Cup 2023, Dallaglio said: “France clearly have a good blend of coaching staff, which includes the magnificent defence coach Shaun Edwards. I know him from his time at Wasps, and can confidently assert that he is a very special man and coach.

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Le Crunch Time | The French Rugby Podcast

It’s crunch time for Fabien Galthie’s men as they prepare to face England with a title and Grand Slam on the line in Paris and we analyse all the tactical, personnel and mental battles. Former England international and Toulon and Lyon full back Delon Armitage joins us to give us his insight, as well as to share a few stories on the likes of Bernard Laporte and Mourad Boudjellal from his Champions Cup winning days, and we pick our MEATER Moment of the Week…
Use the code FRENCHPOD10 at checkout for 10% off any full price item at Meater.com

Video Spacer

Le Crunch Time | The French Rugby Podcast

It’s crunch time for Fabien Galthie’s men as they prepare to face England with a title and Grand Slam on the line in Paris and we analyse all the tactical, personnel and mental battles. Former England international and Toulon and Lyon full back Delon Armitage joins us to give us his insight, as well as to share a few stories on the likes of Bernard Laporte and Mourad Boudjellal from his Champions Cup winning days, and we pick our MEATER Moment of the Week…
Use the code FRENCHPOD10 at checkout for 10% off any full price item at Meater.com

“He has won trophies wherever he has been, with Wigan in rugby league, and Wasps and Wales in rugby union. I suspect that he is about to add a title with France, too. That is if there’s space in his trophy cabinet. He has won more than 50 titles as a player and coach across the codes.

“He has given France a hard edge and has a unique way of communicating – a perfect balance of head and heart – with players, who automatically respect and like him for his achievements. At some stage, I would like the RFU to remember that he is in fact English and get him coaching our national team, rather than all their close rivals one by one.”

Related

Australian Anthony Seibold, a coach recruited from the NRL, is the current England defence coach having been appointed last September by Eddie Jones after John Mitchell opted to move on to Wasps despite being contracted through to the 2023 World Cup in France. 

England have conceded nine tries in this year’s Six Nations, with Wales (seven), France (six) and Ireland (three) faring better. Their concession of 71 points in four matches is also only third-best heading into their final match in Paris, France conceding 60 and Ireland 58. 

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J
JW 12 hours ago
The Fergus Burke test and rugby's free market

I can guarantee that none of the three would have got a chance with Ireland in the state they arrived from NZ.

Why would you think they would?

Two of them were at Leinster and were bench-warmers when they arrived

Sometimes you can be beyond stupid JW.

Haha look who's talking! Hello? Can you just read what you wrote about Leinster to yourself again please lol

It took prob four seasons to get James Lowe's defence up to the required standard to play international footy. If Jacob Stockdale had not experienced a big slump in form he might not have gotten the chance at all.

I'm really not sure why you're making this point. Do you think Ireland are a better team than the All Blacks, where those players would have been straight in? This is like ground hog day the movie with you. Can you not remember much of the discussions, having so many readers/commentors? Yup, 26/7/8 would have been the perfect age for them to have been capped by NZ as well.


Actually, they would obviously have been capped given an opportunity earlier (where they were ineligible to for Ireland).


TTT, who was behind JGP at the Hurricanes, got three AB caps after a couple of further seasons acting as a backup SR player, once JGP left of course. In case you didn't see yourself contradicting your own comments above, JGP was just another player who became first choice for Ireland while 2nd (or even 3rd/outside the 23 in recent cases) for Leinster. And fair enough, no one is suggesting JGP would have surpassed TJP in three or four years either. He would have been an All Black though, and unlike in your Leinster example, similar performances from him would have seen TJP move on earlier to make way for him. Not limited him like he was in Ireland. That's just the advantage of the way they can only afford so many. Hell, one hit wonders like Seta Tamanivalu and Malakai Fekitoa got rocketed into the jersey at the time.


So not just him. Aki and Lowe both would have had opportunities, as you must know has been pointed out by now. It's true that the adversity of having to move to Ireland added a nice bit of mongrel to their game though, along with their typical development.


Aki looked comfortable as the main 12 in his first two seasons, he was fortunate SBW went back to league for a season you could say, but as a similar specialist he ultimate had to give the spot back again on his return. There's certainly no doubt he would have returned and flourished with coachs like Rennie, Wayne Smith, and Andrew Strawbridge, even Tom Coventry. All fair for him to take up an immediate contract instead of wait a year of course though.


It's just whatever the point of your comments are meant to make, your idea that these players wouldn't have achieved high honors in NZ is simply very shortsighted and simplistic. I can only think you are making incorrect conclusions about this topic because of this mistake. As a fan, Aki was looking to be the Nonu replacement for me, but instead the country had the likes of Laumape trying to fill those boots with him available. Ditto with Lowe once Rieko moved to center.

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