Rugby Union: Farrell Too Skilful for Back Row, Says Dallaglio

Lawrence Dallaglio, who is ready to resume his own union career this weekend, has suggested that England's management have been unfair to Andy Farrell in their haste to fast-track the former Great Britain rugby league captain into next year's World Cup squad.

Dallaglio, who has been restored to the Wasps captaincy for the EDF Energy Cup tie against London Irish in High Wycombe tomorrow afternoon following summer surgery to remove a metal plate from his right ankle, believes it was wrong to propel Farrell into the national squad before he had played a game of union. He has sympathy for a player who, theoretically at least, is one of his rivals for a place in the England back row.

"I can't imagine what it would be like for me to move across to rugby league and from day one be in the Great Britain squad," said Dallaglio yesterday. "It would be incredibly difficult. The poor lad just needs to get some rugby under his belt and then he can start enjoying it and take the next step, which is England."

It is no huge surprise either to learn that the England back-row stalwart feels Farrell would be better suited to a midfield role, although Dallaglio was smiling broadly when he suggested the ex-Wigan skipper was "far too skilful to play in the back-row" and would stand a better chance of selection at No12.

"He's a very good ball player who has been used to playing second receiver for most of his career, so it would seem to be his role. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out the quality we have in the back row in this country already. If you compare that to what we have at 12 it means it would be easier to make your mark there."

At 33, though, Dallaglio is not about to waste time on other people's problems. His goal is to recapture the flying form he was showing for Wasps before fracturing and dislocating his ankle against Bay of Plenty in the opening game of the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, and he is as keen as ever to rejoin the fray.

"I'm very ready, very excited, and very nervous," he admitted. "I've trimmed down, lost a bit of weight, and the ankle feels a lot more stable and a lot stronger. I don't feel weighed down on the pitch any more.

"I'm not the first player to come back from a fracture dislocation, as Alan Smith has proved at Manchester United. You've got to be realistic. I'm never going to recapture the speed I had when I started my career but I do recognise the need for mobility and I can certainly get quicker.

"Everyone wants to play against the All Blacks but it's a very long season and my focus really is on the New Year. There are a lot of very talented players around and I'm sure there will be some interesting selection dilemmas."

The Wigan chairman, Maurice Lindsay, meanwhile, has warned union sceptics that the Warriors will happily take Farrell back if the 15-a-side code does not want him.

Farrell scored 3,135 points in 368 appearances for his hometown club between 1991 and 2004. Lindsay said: "I have got a simple message for the rugby union critics - Wigan would love to have him back in their side. He would be a magnificent player for us once again. We've missed him sadly over the last two years and, if he wants to come home, the door is very much open.

"Knowing Andy as I do, I would think he will want to stay and prove people wrong. But there is a limit to the wild comment that anyone should have to put up with. Whatever he does, it will never alter my opinion that Andy Farrell is one of the greatest rugby players that we have ever seen."