Lions series was pinnacle

By Simon Hayes on December 6, 2007 12:00 AM

"IT WILL always for me be the one that got away. Losing any game of rugby is a disappointment but losing a world cup final is bitterly disappointing."
Rugby legend Lawrence Dallaglio was in Canary Wharf on Monday (December 3) and admitted England's defeat by South Africa in October is still something that upsets him.
"It's something you remember for the rest of your life," he said. "I was lucky enough to win one before but there are some in the team who won't get another chance. Hopefully there are many who will."

The 35-year-old Wasps star was signing copies of his autobiography It's in the Blood at Books Etc in Jubilee Place mall.
The book created some controversy over comments serialised in a Sunday paper about England coach Brian Ashton's handling of his players during the tournament, although Dallaglio played down the matter.
He said: "It was blown out of proportion but what sells newspapers ultimately isn't what always sells books. The world cup chapter is 4,000 words out of a 140,000-word book. When people read the book and put those extracts into context they'll understand it's quite a balanced book. The world cup 2007 is only a very small part of the overall book. It's an honest appraisal of what life's been like as a professional rugby player."
Dallaglio hopes to prolong his international career, having won 84 caps since his 1995 debut, but admitted it might be difficult, especially with a new generation of players coming through.
He said: "I'm enjoying my rugby but having already retired once, in 2004, I'm not going to start making any brash statements now. But it's pretty obvious I won't be playing for that much longer so on that basis it wouldn't surprise me if we start bringing through players for the future."
In a glittering career in which he has won everything at club and international level, including the 2003 world cup, does Dallaglio have one outstanding memory?
"It's always very hard when I'm asked that question," he said. "Obviously if you measure your career in terms of what you win then winning the world cup for your country is a wonderful thing.
"But the absolute pinnacle for anyone's rugby career has to be playing for the British Lions. To win the 1997 series in South Africa was, for me, the greatest rugby experience I've ever had."
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