Dallaglio: Time to forget the World Cup

Lawrence Dallaglio today urged his England players to put the World Cup triumph behind them and focus on the three-Test tour to New Zealand and Australia this summer.

Dallaglio must first help London Wasps try to clinch a league and cup double - the Zurich Premiership and the Heineken Cup.

The England captain then will attempt to prove the World Cup champions are still capable of beating the Southern Hemisphere's nations without the injured Jonny Wilkinson and Phil Vickery, plus Martin Johnson, Neil Back and Jason Leonard, who have retired from Test rugby.

Dallaglio said: "This team now needs to rid itself of the World Cup and stamp its own authority on this tour.

"Since then, things have quite naturally evolved and this tour is an opportunity to move forward as a new group of players and that's very exciting for everyone involved with England."

With New Zealand boasting a new coaching team made up of Graham Henry and Steve Hansen, who both took charge of Wales, and Northampton's Wayne Smith, the All Blacks will be forewarned about the challenge England will pose.