Lawrence Dallaglio is vowing to give 'absolutely everything' in a bid to make the England World Cup cut.

Boss Brian Ashton will unveil his 30-man squad to defend the Webb Ellis trophy in France on August 14 and Dallaglio is determined to be in it.

The 34-year-old former captain has virtually recovered from a minor end-of-season knee operation and is ready to meet his latest challenge.

Dallaglio said: "There is no point in holding anything back now, and I will be giving absolutely everything, as will every player.

"You cannot underestimate what it means to put on the shirt for your country - it is a very special thing."

Since Dallaglio helped England win the World Cup in Australia in 2003, the world champions have endured a torrid time, winning just 15 of their 37 Tests.

But the Wasps skipper believes Ashton's men can go further than the quarter-finals and can rival expected leading contenders New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and France.

He said: "What I have been encouraged by is when you look around the squad, bar one or two injuries, it is the strongest England squad they can put out.

"I don't think that has been the case for quite a long time. It certainly wasn't in South Africa this year, and it wasn't throughout periods of the Six Nations either.

"Everyone is coming to the boil at the right time. Some might argue it is a little bit late, but it is what it is, and on paper we have got an incredibly strong side and a very experienced one as well.

"There are a lot of World Cup winners, there a lot of young guys who are very keen to improve and impress, and we've got guys there with a proven track record.

"Two of the fundamental elements of winning a World Cup are to have a pack that can impose itself on the opposition and to have a very strong defence.

"Obviously, there are lots of other areas as well, but I look around the pack, and whoever is picked, I feel are going to be very competitive."