Dawson motivated by bad memories

Matthew Dawson was present at Wembley when England contrived to foul up a Grand Slam match against Wales in 1999, and was captain of his country when the red rose army managed a second successive misfire at Murrayfield in April of last year.

"I'd be lying if I said that, in my quiet moments, I didn't sometimes look back on those two matches," confessed the Northampton scrum-half yesterday, as the build-up to this weekend's third attempt on northern hemisphere union's ultimate prize gathered momentum.

Quiet moments? The ever-loquacious Dawson does not have too many of those, especially if there is a referee in the vicinity. But England's temporary captain clearly feels he and his countrymen will be attending to some unfinished business at Lansdowne Road on Saturday. They have averaged almost 40 points a game in championship rugby over the last three campaigns – Grand Slam credentials in anyone's language – yet they are still blighted by under-achievement. In the absence of Martin Johnson, Dawson considers it his responsibility to right the wrongs of the recent past.

"The facts are there," he said. "The Wembley match, the game at Murrayfield, the World Cup quarter-final with South Africa two years ago... those were pressure games, and games we failed to win. The Wallabies have proved time and again that they can perform and secure results in the most pressurised of circumstances, and it must be part of our development as a team to do the same.

"On one level, this match with Ireland is another Test, another game we badly want to win for its own sake. But, yes, the Grand Slam is also there for us, and we cannot run away from it. I'm sure the people who experienced the disappointments of the last couple of championships will use their memories as motivation."

Dawson is one of sport's natural protagonists, an extrovert always to be found at the centre of things. When he shot himself in both feet during last summer's Lions tour by penning a newspaper diary that was less than complimentary towards the management, it seemed inconceivable that he would start a Test match, let alone lead his country. But start a Test he did – the series decider, in Sydney – and captain he is. You cannot keep a good man down.

"Not for one moment did I think that what happened in Australia would affect my standing as a senior member of the England squad," he insisted. "Sure enough, the players gave me their backing from the moment Martin pulled out through injury, and have re-emphasised that I still have their support. I've put up my hand over the Lions business – I've put up my hand several times, in fact. But I'd like to think we are all grown men who accept that mistakes are occasionally made. If people want to dwell on the past, they're entitled to do so. But I want to move on, and being given the captaincy for this game means I have an opportunity to do just that."

If his record as England captain looks less than terrific on paper – played eight, won four, lost four – the reality is that Dawson has frequently performed an awkward role with considerable distinction. If ever a rugby man played a captain's innings, so to speak, Dawson played one during the half-comical, half-horrifying "tour from hell" in 1998. It might be argued that he played three of them, for his efforts at the helm of a third-string England team against New Zealand (twice) and South Africa were masterpieces of resilience. "What did I take from that tour, apart from a few good shoeings? I think it taught me how far you can push yourself in a difficult situation," he said.

When the Irish are in the mood for a scrap, Lansdowne Road can be a difficult situation writ large. How will this weekend compare with what has gone before? "Their passion is something we will have to deal with," Dawson said. He might have added that England, coming off the back of 11 straight wins, have successfully dealt with one hell of a lot since Murrayfield 2000.

IRELAND (v England, Six Nations' Championship, Lansdowne Road, Saturday): G Dempsey (Terenure); S Horgan (Lansdowne), B O'Driscoll (Blackrock), K Maggs (Bath), D Hickie (St Mary's); D Humphreys (Dungannon), P Stringer (Shannon); P Clohessy (Young Munster), K Wood (Harlequins, capt), J Hayes, M Galwey (both Shannon), M O'Kelly (St Mary's), E Miller (Terenure), D Wallace (Garryowen), A Foley (Shannon). Replacements: F Sheahan (Cork Constitution), Emmet Byrne (St Mary's), T Brennan (Barnhall), K Dawson (London Irish), G Easterby (Llanelli), R O'Gara (Cork Constitution), M Mullins (Young Munster).