ENGLAND head coach Brian Ashton has assured Lawrence Dallaglio he still has an international future.

The Wasps No 8 last week revealed he was not expecting to add to his 85 caps, despite remaining committed to doing so.

The 35-year-old upset the Rugby Football Union by criticising England's coaching set-up in his recent autobiography.

But Ashton, who has been retained as head coach on a rolling contract, said: I never have been and never will be a vindictive man.

If I think a player is the best in that position, or the best servant for England in that position, then he will get selected.

You cannot operate selection by saying, I am not going to pick him or him'. You can't operate like that.

I didn't like the criticism but, to be honest, it just washed over me. It didn't affect me at all.

So my message to everyone is that the door is open unless you have retired from international rugby.''

* Saracens boss Alan Gaffney praised his side after surviving an early battering to end Harlequins' unbeaten Guinness Premiership home record with a 27- 20 victory at Twickenham Stoop.

The visitors touched down through centre Rodd Penney and South African pair Neil de Kock and Brent Russell, while Glen Jackson kicked 12 points.

We were totally dominated in the first 30 minutes but I commend our defence,'' said director of rugby Gaffney. We scrambled very well.

I give our guys full credit for the way they defended. We were under the cosh for a lot of that game.

Quins could easily have scored a couple of tries because we never got into the game in the opening 30 minutes."