FORMER Ampleforth College pupil Lawrence Dallaglio will complete a remarkable comeback when he runs out at Twickenham tomorrow to face the side from the land of his fathers.

The Shepherds Bush-born No 8 qualified to play for Italy through his father, and was even offered the chance to head to Milan as a 19-year-old, but he has stuck to his English roots.

But after a rough ride with England over the years, you have to wonder whether he ever regretted the decision to say 'no grazia' to the Azzurri.

But the Wasps stalwart, who left Ampleforth alongside Ireland international Guy Easterby in 1989, has remained loyal to the Red Rose.

Despite being stripped of the England captaincy before the 1999 World Cup, a serious knee injury and a very public dressing down by Clive Woodward this autumn, Dallaglio has always vowed to fight for his place.

And his determination has paid off and since coming off the bench as a replacement against France in the opening game, Dallaglio has been revelation in the back row - recapturing his best marauding form.

But the visit of Italy, will see Dallaglio complete his comeback when he takes the role of vice-captain.

With skipper Martin Johnson joining an ever-increasing injury list - nearly an entire first XV are currently filling up the treatment room - wonder-boy Jonny Wilkinson has been handed the captain's armband with Dallaglio as his lieutenant.

And with Woodward, who learned his rugby at Easingwold School, forced to select a side devoid of experience, he will be looking to Dallaglio to lead from the front.

As well as Johnson, England will be missing the forward power of Jason Leonard, Phil Vickery, Trevor Woodman, Julian White, Neil Back and Lewis Moody. In the backs, Jason Robinson, Iain Balshaw, Ben Cohen and Austin Healy are all missing in action.

James Simpson-Daniel and Josh Lewsy come in on the wing and at full-back respectively, while Danny Grewcock will be asked to fill the shoes of Johnson.

Despite the injuries, Woodward has also made two other changes to the side, with Matt Dawson coming in to replace Kyran Brackan at scrum-half and Mike Tindall returning to the centres at the expense of Charlie Hodgson.

On the bench flanker Alex Sanderson and centre Ollie Smith have been promoted from the 'A' team.

Updated: 10:01 Saturday, March 08, 2003