Dallaglio issues an England warning for woeful starters Wasps

Lawrence Dallaglio warned Wasps’ hefty England contingent on Monday that the champions’ shocking start could jeopardise their international status unless they start winning.

Despite having nine members of Martin Johnson’s elite squad for the November Tests, Wasps are second from bottom in the Premiership after losing both their games and now face trips to Northampton and Leicester.

Looking grim: Dallaglio has not been impressed by Wasps' dismal start

Dallaglio said: ‘People have been talking about the club losing nine England players when the internationals come round. Well, Wasps won’t have to worry about losing that many if they carry on the way they are.

‘International teams are picked on form and if players want to be in the England side, they have to be playing well. You need to be playing in a winning team to get picked. A few need to be reminded of that.’

Dallaglio, an associate director since bringing down the curtain on his career at Twickenham last May with a fourth Premiership title, saw Wasps blunder to Sunday’s last-minute home defeat by Worcester.

‘They will be very angry after two very poor performances but they will respond,’ he said. ‘No one will press the panic button. Let’s not write anyone off yet but it means they will have to do it the hard way, as usual.’

Jason Robinson is coming out of retirement to whizz around Twickenham one last time on Saturday in support of British rugby’s tribute to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The cross-code superstar vowed never to play again after his farewell for the Barbarians against South Africa last year but has changed his mind after learning that a paratrooper from close to his home in Lancashire had been killed in Helmand province last weekend — 23-year-old Private Jason Lee Rawstron, from Clayton-le-Moors, who died in a gun battle with the Taliban.

‘I got a call asking me if I would play and, really, how could I say no?’ said Robinson. ‘On the same day I heard the sad news about a soldier losing his life who lived near to me.

‘That has made me even more determined to do all I can to help. A lot of people talk about international and club rugby players putting their bodies on the line but you cannot compare that with our soldiers and what they do on behalf of the country. I would encourage as many as people as possible to buy tickets and support this superb cause.’

Robinson will join several team-mates from England’s World Cup-winning squad of 2003, among them Dallaglio, Martin Johnson, Will Greenwood, Dan Luger and Richard Hill, in a team captained by Dallaglio for the Help The Heroes match against Scott Gibbs’ international XV.

Gibbs is back in shape despite not having played since his last appearance for the Ospreys in February 2004. All proceeds are in aid of the rehabilitation of wounded service personnel.