Lawrence Dallaglio warns over young players

10/01/2012

Former England rugby captain Lawrence Dallaglio has warned coach Stuart Lancaster against including too many young players in his Six Nations team.

Fans enjoying corporate hospitality at Twickenham for the tournament may be keen to see fresh faces but the 2003 World Cup winner told BBC Sport throwing Ben Morgan into the fray just days after he chose England over Wales would be premature.

"The lad needs to experience the culture and the environment," said Dallaglio of the 22-year-old from Bristol, who had qualified for Wales under the three-year residency rule.

He also questioned whether it is "fair" to give 20-year-old Owen Farrell a tough introduction to international rugby as a fly half in the white-hot atmosphere for Murrayfield as a replacement for the retired Jonny Wilkinson and injured Toby Flood.

The possible inclusion of Farrell comes after Flood sustained a knee ligament injury when playing for Leicester against Sale that will rule him out for up to six weeks.

By Liz Johnstone