Saturday, May 31, 2008
A farewell tribute to Lawrence Dallaglio
Dallaglio, 35, was given a standing ovation when he was replaced in the 68th minute, but was keen to share the spotlight with his team-mates.
"This was not about me, it was a wonderful squad effort," he said.
"We were 10th in the table around Christmas time, so this is probably our greatest achievement."
"We have had some great days in the last few years but given where we were after the World Cup this is probably our greatest achievement.
"We played a mighty opponent today in Leicester and we always knew it was going to be tough. They came back at us but we held on and performed heroically."
Humble words from the departing Dallaglio, who will now have time to sit back and reflect on an amazing career that saw him become the second-most capped Englishman of all time.
He won 85 international caps for his country, is one of only two players to have won both the World Cup and the Sevens World Cup, he's claimed a Grand Slam with England, and also went on three Lions tours. With his beloved Wasps he has won two Heineken Cups and now five English titles.
A fitting tribute to a legend of England, Wasps, and world rugby.
Posted at 10:26 pm | 35 comments
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Viewing 35 comments
ed May 31, 2008 11:00 pm
legend. i think a great coach for the future... He loves rugby, knows how it works, and is actually pretty bright.
Patron May 31, 2008 11:24 pm
As an irish man this is going to sound strange but he is one of rugbys greatest players, as a captain, a player and an individual he stood out, great respect for him and always loved watching himself and Corry go head to head! if one word could some up dallaglio it would be "power"!Wish him all the best in his retirement he will be a great asset to wasps still
censu May 31, 2008 11:38 pm
This was a good video, a fitting tribute, and an even fitter ending to the career of one of England rugby's greats... he gave his heart, soul and a good portion of his life to it... I'm sure he will wreap the benefits... grande dallaglio!!!!
goodNumber10 May 31, 2008 11:54 pm
The guy is a legend and that video actually brought a lump to my throat.Many people dislike him but you cannot deny he's been behind/a key factor in some of the greatest teams to play the oval game.Lions 97 & 2001, England 2003 and the years around it. Wasps in the last 10 years under his captaincy have been one of the dominant clubs in the NH.Absolute respect to the guy, he's done things many of us only dream about.
Conor10 June 01, 2008 3:41 am
Great player, great man.p.sWould anyone know the name of the song?
goodNumber10 June 01, 2008 6:55 am
"Great player, great man.p.sWould anyone know the name of the song?"Conor10, the song is "The Verve - Lucky Man" it's on their album "Urban Hymns".
will66 June 01, 2008 7:48 am
I met him once and couldn't look him in the eye - went all girly and shy. My favourite player of the past ten years by a mile.
Osprey Rich June 01, 2008 8:20 am
Sorry to all who love the man but I for one loath and despise him. Being Welsh it is no doubt par for the course and I expect some vitriol from his fans on here but thats ok. When Johnson played I hated him but now look back and feel privaledged to have seen a great player in his pomp. Just cant say the same for LD, the tragedy of his sister not withstanding I find him arrogant and disengenuous. His back stabbing of Ashton, his retirement and subsequent comeback. In my eyes he used the media to get his name back in the frame and for the pst 2 years has been living on past glories. Johnson brilliant, Corry honest grafter Dallaglio show pony. Glad he has gone.
Chazza June 01, 2008 8:45 am
Hes a great player, and coming from an Australian this is wierd but in the WC03 he was the base of the england team that beat australia in the final, i watched his last match, great game. Go Dallaglio one of the best number 8s around.
Anonymous June 01, 2008 12:04 pm
"Absolute respect to the guy, he's done things many of us only dream about."100% true.
Daveaubrey June 01, 2008 12:18 pm
osprey rich, you're wrong on so many counts. fair enough you don't like him, many don't, but you don't like him for the wrong reasons:Dallaglio showed that as a captain you have to be abrasive and arrogant, Corry is a great captain but only when his team is winning, Dallaglio embodies the never-say-die attitude much more with his passion, which brings much greater success,As for Ashton, there comes a time when someone needs to man up and say this guy isn't right for England, and lol did that and was derided for it. Ashton 'led' England to a WC final, possibly, but he showed he wasn't above pettiness by not bringing Lewsey to the six nations, despite his class, and by favouring his friend Balshaw. Then people wake up to the fact that he's rubbish and he's got rid of. Had Johnson come in after the World Cup, as Catt and lol suggested, i think England would have had a much better chance of winning the six nations, and it's unlikely we would have capitulated to the Welsh,finally, the media demolished him when he came back to England, saying was old and poor, but he showed this season fundamentally in his performances that he is still a good player and a great leader, for 50 minutes (or even 68) at least
Anonymous June 01, 2008 12:23 pm
Just to let you all know now, not all Welsh ppl feel the way osprey rich does about Dallaglio. Especially when you consider he was basically responsible for Wales winning against England at Wembley in 99! jk.
aj.uk June 01, 2008 1:48 pm
Legend. He played in thirteen finals in his professional and international career, won eleven. One was with Wasps, one in 2007WC where he barely figured.An absolte driving force, today he is far from the player he once was but his sheer determination and emotion made his career span nearly two decades.You cannot fault the man. From interviews, he seems honest, open and insightful."I find him arrogant and disengenuous. His back stabbing of Ashton, his retirement and subsequent comeback. In my eyes he used the media to get his name back in the frame and for the pst 2 years has been living on past glories. Johnson brilliant, Corry honest grafter Dallaglio show pony. Glad he has gone."His backstabbing of Ashton? This is LD. No doubt he expected to feature more prominently in the world cup. And that, coupled with Ashton's inepitude no doubt led to his comments in his book. However, LD knows when somes good for the squad, hes worked with McGeechan for over a decade ffs. Ashton is an excellent coach in the tecnichal sense. However, managerially and otherwise he lacks the ability be an international head coach.Can we please have an extended clip of the highlights of the final itself?Great video.
Sean June 01, 2008 4:12 pm
Hate him with a passion. Every time I tackle someone I imagine its him. I totally and utterly despise him. He was never the great that some people make him out to be - especially over the last 4 years. Nevertheless, I respect his achievments and wish him the best, but still, good ridance rather than goodbye.
martin June 01, 2008 5:24 pm
He was never one of my favourite players, but he is one of the greatest to play the game. Dallaglio and Johnson would walk into any team that has ever played. Wasps hav been very sucessful over the past few years, Dallaglio, Lewsey, Waters and Shaw have been the backbone of that sucess. He has won everything that can be won and is possoble the greatest 8 of them all
Anonymous June 01, 2008 5:59 pm
hope he kills himself! waste of space! no pace, grumpy cunt! just a bollox!
Huw June 01, 2008 6:31 pm
I hate him.Such an arrogant player and bloke.From a 14 yo Welsh kid, he has put a really bad influence on potential players on how to deal with press.Oh yeah and him dealing Crack and Ecstasy really pushed the boat out and made me want to put a Lima styly hit on him. :)
will June 01, 2008 8:20 pm
"hope he kills himself! waste of space! no pace, grumpy cunt! just a bollox!"- Brilliant input there thanks. slow. i believe he was in a worldcup sevens winning side. speed is fairly important there. his character is questionable at times. but i think his leading of the back row of him, hill and back won england the world cup in 2003. theres this one picture in te final with him carrying the ball with hill and back side by side 5 steps behind him. epic.
Anonymous June 01, 2008 10:22 pm
fuck off back to yout nintendo wii and your girlie mags huw, pathetic, spotty little twat.
Darlene June 02, 2008 1:44 am
i think he's about the most arrogant and unlikeable player i've seen.he was one of the *better* *back-rowers* of *recent* years. compare his reception to richard hill's last game recently. hill was at least as good and effective a player, and a gentleman.i don't like to make negative personal comments, but with all the blanket sychophantic coverage in the media it needs saying. he was actually one of the most reviled players in world rugby (and possibly even within england). at least campese had a sense of humour and didn't take himself too seriously.lewis moody mentioned on 5live that he was not well-liked at leicester, and one of their alan partridges asked "how can anyone not like lawrence dallaglio?". i thought it was a suitable ironic comment, but actually he was being serious...my abiding memories of him will be calcutta cup '99 when he unleashed a volley of punches on scott murray purely because he had the temerity to keep stealing his lineout ball... pure cowardice... tv commentators said he should have been sent off (that also recalls the knee-drop on lomu when he had the temerity to score a try that same year)... and secondly, the reception he got at his last murrayfield appearance in 2006 as england were beaten.
Anonymous June 02, 2008 9:57 am
That person that said he should die, you have no fuckin business here, have some respect for one of the great names of rugby, he may not have been the best, the quickest but he sure was one of the most committed players to play, no matter what country you play for Dallaglio was immense! those that say he was a grumpy bastard, please tell me what games ye play, the man hit hard because wasps was his club, he didnt care about anyone else except for wasps and england, completely focused player....if ye think he was grumpy bastard then why dont ye try a day of cricket or maybe chess
the wasps wasp June 02, 2008 3:17 pm
dallaglio is a legend! that vid was bril!perfect player, remembered for all time.
AK June 02, 2008 9:24 pm
Everyone now gets a chance to say what they think on big LOl. Some like to attack his personality...do you know him? Some comment on third party whispers? Oh please.. If he was just a guy in a pub I'm sure you would get on fine...he seems like a cool bloke and family man. He has all the honours a rugby player could want and he has retired with respect from players and followers alike. Nice one Lol, bollox to all those chips on shoulders...enjoy your retirement.
Fresh June 03, 2008 6:03 am
All the best to Lols, he's a true legend and those that don't accept/agree with that quite simply don't know much/anything about rugby, period. Along with the likes of Jerry Collins he's one of my fav players and I can only shake my head at some of these comments!
Anonymous March 15, 2009 11:17 am
Do you tink he is going to be one of the next Italian coach? Let's hope so!!! Sorry for my english x)
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