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Saracens Number Eight Tony Diprose earned 10 caps for his country in the late 1990s, though is most often remembered for leading England to their biggest ever defeat in internationals, a 76-0 thrashing by Australia in 1998. A skilful scrummager and ball handler, Tony benefited greatly from playing alongside such stars as Richard Hill, Francois Pienaar, Michael Lyngah and Phillipe Sella and was a key component in Saracens rise to prominence. After starring with the England U21s in 1993, Tony won the first of 20 England A caps in 1994, scoring five tries and leading his side through an unbeaten run in the 1995/6 season. In 1994 he was also voted the RFU's "Young Player Of The Year", suggesting that a long and fruitful career lay ahead. Full international honours came his way in 1997 when he was selected for England's tour to Argentina, due mostly to the absence of players who were touring with the Lions in South Africa.
Argentina is always a difficult place to visit, but England won the first test 46-20, with Tony scoring his only international try. However, spurred on by the Buenos Aires crowd, the Pumas came back to win the second 33-13 to level the series. In common with Saracen's teammate Kyran Bracken, he also earned a call up as replacement to the British Lions squad. Both men went out to replace injured Welshmen, Bracken for Rob Howley, whilst Tony's chance came following an injury to Scott Quinnell and he played in victories against the Emerging Springboks and the Northern Free State. In the following autumn, Tony was back in the colours of England, winning caps against Australia and New Zealand respectively. The game against the Wallabies at Twickenham ended in a tame 15-15 draw, and England were then comfortably beaten 25-8 by the All Blacks at Old Trafford.
Tony enjoyed a superb season in 1997/98, remarkable for the fact that he did not miss a single minute of rugby. Saracen's missed out on the league title to Rob Andrew's Newcastle by a single point, but won the Pilkington Cup against Wasps by 48-18, equalling Bath's 1990 points scoring record in the same competition. Diprose also won his only caps in the Five Nations, starting against Ireland and making replacement appearances against Wales and Scotland. In the summer, Tony then toured the Southern Hemisphere with a depleted England squad and was awarded the captaincy for the first test against Australia. Before the match, the President of the ARU Dick McGruther had rather foolishly remarked that the tourists decision to send an understrength side down under was "The biggest English sellout since Gallipoli" Having enjoyed so much success that year, Tony was in bullish mood going into the match, but England were no match for the Wallabies and lost 76-0, conceding no fewer than 11 tries.
Matt Dawson took over the captaincy for the remainder of the tour, but Tony played in two further tests, his last appearance coming in an 18-0 defeat by South Africa in Cape Town. After the tour, Lawrence Dallaglio returned to the side, thus permanently closing the door on the otherwise blameless Diprose. Always one to enjoy life outside of the game, Tony's overenthusiasm once had unexpected consequences. Whilst on a night out in Manchester with the other Saracens players after a match against Sale in 1999, rumour has it that Tony invited two strangers to a party being held opposite Sale's Heywood Road Ground. Perhaps unsurprisingly the two would be revellers (identities unknown) were refused entry to the party and decided to get something out of the evening by taking the Sale Rugby Club roadsign with them. Sale have been looking for it ever since! (Jon Collins)
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