Lawrence Dallaglio says Gallagher Premiership 'a real opportunity' for players to get into Six Nations squads

Lawrence Dallaglio and Brian O’Driscoll think there is a chance for players to force themselves into Six Nations contention over the remaining Gallagher Premiership Rugby fixtures of 2023.

The 2024 edition of northern hemisphere rugby's showpiece event gets underway on February 2, with France welcoming defending champions Ireland to the Orange Velodrome in Marseille.

Competition for places is always fierce and Dallaglio, a four-time Six Nations winner with England and speaking at Northampton Saints v Harlequins, live on TNT Sports, said there is a real opportunity” to impress the respective teams' selectors.

“Europe [Investec Champions Cup] is around the corner, the Six Nations is only the other side of Christmas,” Dallaglio said.

“The squads will be announced quite soon, every player wants to be there.

“After the World Cup there tends to be new players brought in so it's a real opportunity to get yourself in the mind of [England coach] Steve Borthwick and the other international coaches.”

O’Driscoll, who won the Six Nations twice with Ireland, agreed with Dallaglio, adding: “It's an opportunity to showcase what was missed out on. In England's case they’ve gone and done extremely well so they’re going to have their work cut out.

“However, there is an opportunity. The evolution of the game, the changes of the game, nothing remains the same and so there's always a need for improvement.

“Whoever puts their hand up or puts in performances is going to be within a shout of getting picked up for this next squad.”

Saints welcomed Harlequins to Franklin’s Gardens on Friday night, with both teams looking to bounce back from disappointing derby defeats.

Discipline cost Northampton dear as Leicester Tigers ran out comfortable winners last week and O’Driscoll called on Phil Dowson’s side to finally address this part of the game that has plagued them of late.

“It's been a real problem for them,” O’Driscoll said. “And you kind of wonder, do you put it down to the fact that they're trying to create a bit of an edge to their game?

“They were very disappointing away from home last season, very good at home, and maybe they're just trying to bring an extra dimension.

“But then if you look over the course of the last four or five seasons, they had a real discipline problem and it's not that it's specifically in one area, it's kind of littered throughout.

“Attacking rucks, silly penalties given away, a real problem at scrum time last week as well, which they're going to have to stop.

“They definitely have to change certain habits.”

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