Dallaglio tells Haskell to cut out costly mistakes - Sport - Evening Standard
       

Dallaglio tells Haskell to cut out costly mistakes

Lawrence Dallaglio today warned England flanker James Haskell to stop giving away needless penalties and claimed he can afford to make just one mistake against France on Saturday.

Haskell has received a 'half-term report' by former England great Dallaglio, his captain at London Wasps, who had made it clear that one error of judgement is acceptable at test level, but two is pushing it to the limit.

"I have conceded two penalties against both Wales and Italy but only one of them was kicked,î said Haskell in his own defence.

"I have also produced ten turn overs those matches!

"Lawrence spoke to me last week and I am not a guy who is indisciplined and I don't want to get tarred with that brush.

"I am not gong to let that happen. I have to be aware of where I am on the pitch and why I am being penalised. I am really aware that I have to find the right balance without giving up my aggressive play at the break down.

"I need to be more educated about what I am doing and I was taken aback that people were asking the question: can England afford to have him in the side?

"I have to cut out the penalties - I know that - and Lawrence came up and asked me what I was doing giving away two penalties against Italy.

"He said there was an England rule when he was playing that one penalty was the limit.

"I am not careless and I will learn from what Lawrence has said and he has been very constructive and wants me to keep working hard. He also calls me "strawberry seasonî because that's how long I have been in the England team.î

Meanwhile, Jonny Wilkinson admits he is playing for his place as England head coach Brian Ashton has warned his stars he is ready to swing the axe.

World Cup winning hero Wilkinson insists he has always felt pressure to perform and said: "If I didn't feel that way then maybe I would have less pain in the build up to matches.

"It's not about holding onto your shirt, it's ensuring that every time you pull on that England jersey you make sure everything is given to the team. You do it because you care about what you are doing, not because you just want to be there.

"Those shirts deserve to be on the backs of players who want to do it justice.î

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