England warrior Lawrence Dallaglio will launch his third World Cup campaign on Saturday after being rewarded for following two of sport's basic principles - self-belief and hard work.

The 35-year-old Wasps star features among five survivors from England's 2003 World Cup final starting line-up against the United States in Lens.

Having initially retired from Test rugby post-2003 - and then being written off by many pundits as a spent force since returning to the England fold early last year - Dallaglio could be excused a prolonged smile of satisfaction.

But his priority, as ever, will be a convincing team display at Stade Felix-Bollaert rather than any personal glory.

Dallaglio said: ''The World Cup is about playing with and against the best players in the world on the biggest stage, and as a rugby player that is the sort of stage you want to occupy.

''There has been a lot of speculation and talk about who is going to be in the back row, and I think in your head you always remain very positive.

''I have always believed I was good enough to be in the team.

''Obviously, there are other good players around - I know that - especially in the England back row. The back row and the centres are probably the most competitive areas in the squad.

''But with the selection goes a responsibility as well, which is of setting a standard for us in the World Cup and putting in a really good performance on Saturday.''

Dallaglio features in an all-Wasps back row alongside Joe Worsley and Tom Rees for England's Pool A opener.

And the former England skipper is determined to see this current crop of players make a statement, rather than be burdened by events in Sydney four years ago.

He added: ''There has been too much of looking back rather than looking forward.

''We need to stop worrying about what happened four years ago and actually move forward.

''We must find some consistency in this tournament, and I think these first two games (against USA and South Africa) are critical to that.

''If we could get a great start against America, and then beat South Africa, all of a sudden it would change the whole status of England and how they are viewed in this competition.

''One game can actually redefine the way people think about you, and even the way you think about yourselves, to a degree. Let's wait and see how these two games pan out.''

United States flanker Inaki Basauri, meanwhile, has urged his team-mates to ''be courageous'' when they face England.

The Eagles will arrive in Lens with little realistic hope of upsetting England's World Cup campaign at the first hurdle.

Despite the experience and expertise offered by their New Zealand head coach Peter Thorburn and USA rugby boss Nigel Melville, a former England captain, Basauri and company should finish a distant second best.

But enthusiasm and commitment will not be lacking from the Pool A outsiders, whose previous four meetings against England produced defeats of 34-6, 37-9, 106-8 and 48-19.

Basauri said: ''I believe we have the team that can take it to them, as long as we play to our potential.''

''And I think the fans back at home are behind us. They expect us to play to our potential.

''We are all going out there to show the world what we have, and what we have been preparing for over the past four years. It will be a great experience.