Keith Duggan talks to the England veteran, who is back in the side and playing like a man reborn

This is where Laurence Dallaglio finds himself. In front of a cigar cabinet, explaining why after all these years, the next game is definitely the most exciting. It seems like yesterday since Dallaglio epitomised the promise all of the tomorrow's that England rugby ever dreamt of, a chiselled, majestic figure stamping out the neuroses of the Red Rose game as he burst for new gains game after game. Not so long ago, Laurence Dallaglio was at the cutting edge but in sport, seasons pass in seconds and now he is a paternal figure among England's new wave. He has attained that most dreaded of titles: veteran. And life has never been better.

"There is always room for improvement but I do feel I am playing as well as I have done and I have got a great opportunity now in what is a massive game for England, and I hope I can repay the faith in that opportunity with a big performance."

Autumn 2001 and Dallaglio was in the stands in Dublin, a frustrated spectator at the latest calamity that ended England's Grand Slam ambitions. It was the beginning of an uncertain period when injury and newcomers threatened his once unassailable place in the team. Even against France at the beginning of this year's Six Nations, he was forced to cheerlead. But once he got back in, he played like a man reborn. Now he is back to his most commanding and so he stands in front of a selection of fine tobacco and ruminates of the famous failures that have robbed him of a Grand Slam. In the immediate aftermath, it seemed as if the gods were against them but in retrospect, all the great losses are explainable.

"On each occasion, the reason for defeat has been different. The first time, me not opting for a penalty kick (against Wales) counted but it wasn't the sole reason because we gave a lot of penalties to Neil Jenkins that kept them in the game. Against Scotland, our inability to adapt to the conditions. And the final game against Ireland, certainly I think the selection left a lot to be desired. And also, the opposition played well against us. But what is gone is gone."

The message emanating from the England camp is that the magnitude of this game is not a noose around their necks. Instead, it is an opportunity to close on a season of fine progress.

"Yeah, it's a really fantastic prospect," Dallaglio says earnestly. "I think the guys are excited about it more than anything else."

From his early bursts in the all white of England, Dallaglio has loved Dublin. He shakes his head at the thought of this weekend.

"Clearly, it is a unique stadium in that it hasn't been revolutionised or modernised or sanitised. It's become one of those places where it seems like you are miles from the touchline and it will be incredibly noisy, it always is. So I really think it is fitting that this game should be played in that great stadium. As a player, it is a place that inspires you."

Even though it is also a place that seems to leave reason at the turnstiles and is shrouded in weather from another age and where strange things happen visitrs. It is a ground that is hard to win on. For all England's might, there are no guarantees that the unspeakable won't happen again. England have a lot to cope with.

"For one thing, a very good Irish side. They are on a roll themselves and momentum can be difficult to stop. The odds are not good - in the past these winner-takes-all Grand Slams have been won by the home team. I guess that would make victory for us all the more precious. But I think Ireland are under pressure too. They are expected to win this as well. So I think whatever team keeps its head will be the one that comes out on top ." And Dallaglio seems to be the essence of calm. He feels it is time.

"I have said all along that it is important for the belief of this team that we win something. And I am not going to take that back just because we are approaching this game."