Can Mathew Tait take his chance against Wales?

Lawrence Dallaglio has had some harsh things to say about England in recent weeks, going so far as to accuse the squad of being "afraid" of Martin Johnson, a charge that was flatly denied by the England team manager, who said Dallaglio was "pretty wrong" in his analysis.

But Dallaglio's barbs have been intended to motivate more than irritate, and with England's opening match with Wales fast approaching, the patriot within means he's putting all reservations to one side and throwing his weight behind Martin Johnson's team.

"It's a bold selection," he says of the side selected to face Wales on Saturday. "It must have been a welcome change for Martin Johnson to pick from almost a full list of players. Andy Sheridan [the Sale prop] and Tom Rees [the Wasps flanker] are still injured but there's always a bit of collateral damage in professional rugby, and it's an almost full-strength squad. Compared to the autumn internationals [when nearly a dozen players were out injured] there must be a lot more optimism in the squad."

Johnson has resisted calls from many quarters to strip second row Steve Borthwick of the captaincy after England's poor displays in the autumn, in which they lost to Australia and New Zealand and laboured to victory over a second-string Argentina. It's a decision that has Dallaglio's approval. "Borthwick is captain of Saracens, and they're second in the Guinness Premiership, so he's not a bad captain. I sympathise with Steve to a degree because, having captained England at various stages, I know that when England lose you're a bad captain, but win, and suddenly you're a great captain! This side [against Wales] is probably the strongest team Borthwick has captained in his career, and when you're surrounded by good players captaincy becomes a lot easier."

Yet even though he supports Borthwick's appointment as captain Dallaglio stresses that there is a worrying lack of alternatives open to the England manager. When Johnson led England to World Cup glory in 2003 it was in a team blessed with natural leaders: Dallaglio, Matt Dawson, Neil Back, Will Greenwood, Jason Leonard, Richard Hill and Josh Lewsey to name but a few. "There are no standout leaders the way there were in 2003 but that means there's an opportunity," says Dallaglio. "It's a difficult situation but the challenge for England is to develop leadership within the group."

But in the short term all that matters is England's opening game against Wales. "It's a big, big game," says Dallaglio, "and Martin Johnson knows that. It always helps when a coach recognises the significance of a match because it means the players will, too. The thing with the Six Nations is that it happens over a short period so confidence and momentum are crucial if you're to have a successful campaign. I played in a lot of Six Nations and I always felt that if we won the first game anything was then possible. But lose it and the fans start to get on your back, and then the press, and then the players start arguing among themselves. And quickly the tournament has turned into an anti-climax."

England's home advantage will be a vital factor against Wales, says Dallaglio, even though the visitors won when they last came to Twickenham in 2008, their first victory in London for 20 years. "England will obviously be feeling a little under pressure," he says, "but running out in front of their home crowd should settle those early nerves."

One England player sure to be feeling more nervous than most is centre Mathew Tait. Five years ago, Tait made his international debut in Cardiff the day before his 19th birthday. There were no early presents for the raw teenager; England lost and he was dumped on his backside more than once by the hard-tackling Welsh, as Gavin Henson eclipsed him. Since then Tait – arguably the most exciting English threequarter since Jeremy Guscott – has spent his time either sitting on the replacements' bench or playing out of position on the wing. Dallaglio is pleased to see him starting in his preferred position of outside centre, but warns it is up to others to ensure Tait can reveal the full range of his talent. "It is a great opportunity for Tait, who's a gifted player," says Dallaglio. "But if he's to shine against Wales he needs others to have a good game, too. When he played against Wales in 2005 the team performed badly and he suffered as a result. He's had to wait, really until now, for another chance. So Tait needs the England pack to subdue the Wales pack so that he can get decent ball."

Playing inside centre on Saturday is Riki Flutey, one of the few England players to emerge with credit from last season. Dallaglio thinks the New Zealand-born Flutey will have a major bearing against Wales. "Having Riki Flutey playing inside will help Tait because he's experienced and he's got a calm head on his shoulders. He also likes to attack and that should suit Tait. But as I said, and perhaps I'm a little biased, having been a grizzled old forward myself, if Tait is to have a good game he needs his pack to have a good game."

In Dallaglio's heyday, the England pack was the most feared in the world but that aura has long since gone and Wales believe their superiority in the front-row could prove a decisive factor against England. Dallaglio isn't so sure. "I'm confident that the England front-row won't be torn apart by the Welsh front-row," he says. "Tim Payne [the England prop] has had a difficult few weeks but he's proved himself many times with Wasps in the Heineken Cups and Guinness Premiership, and he'll bounce back. The Welsh front-row is a good, solid unit but it's not outstanding."

"Cautiously optimistic", is how Dallaglio describes himself ahead of Saturday's clash, measured words from a man whose bullish swagger was the hallmark of his own England career.