Now, perhaps, Lawrence Dallaglio and the England coaching staff are on the same wavelength. Dallaglio revealed yesterday that he had kept secret a cartilage problem that afflicted him during the final six weeks of last season so as not to affect the assault of London Wasps, his club, on the Heineken Cup.

So unsure was Dallaglio that he would be selected for England’s training camp in Portugal that he did not have an operation on his left knee until June, rather than 24 hours after Wasps had beaten Leicester to become champions of Europe on May 20. It has left him capable of working without pain, even though it has restricted his physical contribution here, and increased the prospect of him attaining his ambition – one more World Cup before he bids farewell to the international game.

Each day in the Algarve, the England players have worked for five hours in temperatures that have soared above 30C (85F), yesterday wearing T-shirts that indicate their support for the campaign to find Madeleine McCann, the youngster kidnapped two months ago from nearby Praia da Luz. Brian Ashton, the head coach, met Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry, on Tuesday.

“I intend to train next week [at the University of Bath] with a view to full contact a week later,” Dallaglio said. “Rather than thinking about England, I was more concerned with winning the Heineken Cup. I felt that if we did win it, I would benefit and so would a number of other players. I think Brian understands now why I was only playing 50 or 60-minute games. I don’t think there’s any problem about playing the full 80.”

Hence the appearance of 11 Wasps players among the 45 in camp here, where Australia will also prepare in August for the World Cup. The Wasps contingent includes the baby of the party, Danny Cipriani, whose chances of selection at full back to cap his first full season of senior rugby remain strong. Mark Cueto is the strongest contender for that position but Cipriani, 19, is cheerfully going head to head with two other youthful players, Olly Morgan and Nick Abendanon, for the chance to join him.

“I have to live up to the standards people like Loll [Dallaglio] and Josh Lewsey have taught me,” Cipriani said. “To be in the training squad has topped an enjoyable year for me. To go one step further I need to take this opportunity to show what I can do. One of us has to put our hand up and show that we’re ready, that we’re solid enough to play for England.”

When Ashton returns home, though, he will check the availability of Julian White, the Leicester prop, who withdrew from the training camp for personal reasons. The seasoned White, it is understood, has problems with the management of his farm. His wife is also expecting a baby and these difficulties could impinge on World Cup selection.

Yet there remains an air of optimism about the holders that has not been justified by results since the Webb Ellis Cup was won in 2003. “I’ve been encouraged by looking around this squad,” Dallaglio said. “We haven’t seen the real England on the pitch on a consistent basis. Everyone is coming to the boil at the right time.” The same might be said of Australia. Stephen Larkham will become their third player to win 100 caps when he plays against South Africa in Sydney on Saturday. It will be the last appearance on home soil for Larkham and George Gregan, the fly half, the world’s most-capped player with 132.