Dallaglio: England are slight favourites (From Crewe Guardian)

Dallaglio: England are slight favourites

8:48pm Friday 12th March 2010 in

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Lawrence Dallaglio insisted it would be the players on the day, and not Martin Johnson or Andy Robinson, who would determine the destiny of Saturday's Calcutta Cup.

The match between England and Scotland at Murrayfield has been billed as a battle between 2003 World Cup-winning captain Johnson and his former coach.

"It's going to be a great battle but at the end of the day, it's the players who have to do the talking and the action," said Dallaglio. "I think they'll put their rivalry to one side after the game and get back to being mates. In my opinion, England probably start as slight favourites. But that doesn't mean they'll win; it'll be very close."

He added: "Andy Robinson's a very intense person, which is no bad thing.

"When you're coaching forwards, you've got to be intense, you've got to get the best out of them.

"Martin Johnson is obviously learning with every breath he takes in coaching terms.

"The atmosphere will be hostile and intimidating. The England players have got to overcome that.

"There are enough players in the England team who have lost recent Calcutta Cup matches here. So there will be no shred of complacency whatsoever.

"Jonny Wilkinson's come under a bit of pressure recently. He's actually been, arguably, one of England's best players in the championship.

"I was written off numerous times during my playing career and it kind of inspires you to come back and show what you can do. He could just be the difference between the teams."