Dallaglio's up for Sale

"We have got our destiny very much in our own hands, we have the majority of games at home, so it is business as usual.

"I have had to ease my way back into it and obviously we feel the timing is right.

"Wasps have a number of targets between now and the end of the season and my coming back is a step towards achieving those targets, hopefully."

Dallaglio cannot wipe the smile off his face at the moment and says he is particularly looking forward to playing under new Wasps director of rugby Warren Gatland.

When Gatland left his job as Ireland coach in November, it registered with Dallaglio but nothing more.

But he took real notice last month when Gatland moved to Wasps as forwards coach.

His position became even more significant for Dallaglio last week following Nigel Melville's decision to quit Wasps in favour of Gloucester and Gatland's subsequent appointment as director of rugby.

Dallaglio said: "Warren's ability as a coach is proven at the highest level. I felt he was really making Ireland turn the corner and they were really coming through as one of the top sides in the world.

"If you contrast their performance in Dublin against England in October with their performance at Twickenham last month, the things that changed were the loss of Keith Wood and the departure of Warren Gatland, which tells me everything about the man and his ability to get the players playing the way he wants."

Dallaglio insists the strong team spirit at Loftus Road has been unaffected by the change of coach.

He said: "You can have all the stars you want but the players recognise it is is about hard work which has been a hallmark at Wasps.

"All the news coming out of the club since Nigel's departure has been very positive. The players have responded magnificently and we are all very excited about what the future holds under Warren.

"I am sure he recognises we have a big task at Wasps and things are not going to happen overnight.

"We have some short-term objectives for the remainder of the season and obviously there are things Warren will want to look at in the longer term from player recruitment to structure of the club and how it is run.

"The priority is results on the pitch and that starts this weekend at Sale."

For now, the man who has won 47 international caps is content to look ahead.

But he knows that a quick return to form could earn him a place on England's proposed summer tour to the South Pacific, and ensure he forms an integral part of coach Clive Woodward's squad for next year's World Cup.

Dallaglio said: "Decisions on what happens next are not mine to make.

"My priority is to demonstrate to people that I am right up there and still in contention and competing for higher honours.

"The way you do that is by putting in solid performances for your club.

"I have had a difficult injury to overcome and have had fantastic help from various people.

"It has just been frustrating more than anything else, but I have always had a lot of self-belief and would come back.

"In hindsight, the rest will do me good at the end of my career."

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