Dawson: I won't get all emotional

Matt Dawson, the London Wasps scrumhalf, started the most emotionally difficult week of his rugby life today by pledging his support to Andy Robinson, the acting head coach who dumped him from the England squad for missing a training session.

Dawson, who played in yesterday's 35-26 victory over London Irish, lost his international place last week after opting to honour a commitment to the BBC programme A Question Of Sport.

And the 31-year-old finds himself the centre of attention again as he prepares to face Northampton, the club he left in the summer, on Saturday.

Dawson, who has won 65 caps at No9, played all his senior rugby at Saints and acknowledges his emotions will have to be kept in check until after the match if he is to handle the pressure.

"The date of our match with Saints has been in my mind since my move and it would be easy to get too emotional," he said. "I have to put all of that to the back of mind and stay focussed on my job with Wasps."

Dawson is adamant he still has the desire to be an England player and, on the evidence of his form against Irish, that is still a possibility.