Bracken bows out

The last of a series of Grand Slam fiascos, in Dublin three years ago, left England's acting captain in such a submerged state that he would probably have disappeared without trace but for a few home truths from head coach Woodward.

Dawson, who made his debut against Western Samoa eight seasons ago, had slipped far enough down the scrum half ratings that, for the only time in his life, he found himself on the floor with little hope of beating the count. Once Woodward had told him his fortune, he realised there would be no way back unless he changed his ways.

'Clive sat me down and said that I had slipped to third or even fourth choice,' said Dawson. 'He made it clear he wouldn't pick me again unless I changed.

That was definitely the lowest ebb, the one time when I really doubted if I could come back.

'I was doing a lot of media stuff outside rugby without realising how it was affecting my game. Clive said: "If you ever miss a rugby activity to do something else, stop it or your career will suffer". I took his advice to heart and now I impose that rule before I agree to anything outside the game.'

It took Dawson 13 months to repair the damage, a period during which England picked the three scrum halves above him, Kyran Bracken, Austin Healey and Andy Gomarsall.

However, in the most demanding of all schools where one mistake can be one too many, a few wayward passes at Murrayfield were enough for Woodward to drop Gomarsall and reinstate his World Cup winner.

England have changed scrum halves with such bewildering frequency - 33 times in 78 Tests under Woodward - that more than 10 years have elapsed since one played 10 matches in a row - Dewi Morris between January 1992 and March 1993.

Dawson, for all his deserved reputation as a big-game specialist, has never managed more than eight, likewise Bracken. Back on top of the heap again at the age of 31, Dawson, who wins his 60th cap on Saturday, might have to make a few more comebacks before he is consigned to history.

'Maybe by the time I finish I might have had to push the total up to 20,' he said. 'I'm used to people snapping at my heels and I'm happy to snap at theirs. That's when my character, whatever people think of it, comes into its own.

'I've never lost the burning desire to play for England but I've never been one for thinking that I've done it all. I've always wanted to improve because you never stop learning.'

He has done so most recently by observing Gomarsall. 'What's obvious about Andy is his fantastic service and I want to get mine up to that level,' said Dawson. 'So I pick his brains. What special practice does he do? What weights does he use? We're all picking each other's brains and that's the way to set the standards even higher.'

Ireland head for London with just one enforced change to the team who routed Wales in Dublin 10 days ago. Like England they have had to change their second row pairing, Donncha O'Callaghan's injury clearing the way for Malcolm O'Kelly's recall to the team and Gary Longwell's to the bench.

Coach Eddie O'Sullivan is realistic enough to know that, despite 11 tries in two away matches, England have still to hit their straps. he said: 'Martin Johnson was phenomenal for them but they haven't missed too much of a beat without him. England won't be totally happy with the way they have played so far. They are probably saving their best for us on Saturday.'

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