Chris Robshaw's redemption story complete with discarded captain ready to lead England again
The Harlequins flanker has been one of England’s most consistent performers over the last 22 months
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Your support makes all the difference.Rumours of Chris Robshaw’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. That isn’t new, of course, as the former England skipper has defied expectations since being stripped of the captaincy two years ago by the current head coach, Eddie Jones.
During the 2015 Rugby World Cup, one of the lowest points in English rugby history when it comes to the national team, Jones wrote in a newspaper column that Robshaw was not only “not a No 7”, but that he was “not outstandingly good in any area”.
Unsurprisingly, Jones removed Robshaw as captain upon taking the England job after that tournament and ousted him from the openside flanker role. Many players would have crumbled under that criticism, and their international careers faded away just as easily as England’s World Cup hopes that year.
But two years down the line, Robshaw will lead England out as co-captain with George Ford against Samoa, and the number on his back will be a seven. If that wasn’t enough to build this redemption story, the Harlequins flanker has been one of England’s most consistent performers over the last 22 months since the start of last year’s Six Nations. For a man who goes about his business very quietly, but to the highest standard, it’ll come as no surprise that he is taking his captaincy return all in his stride, and while he admits there is some self-satisfaction there he would not for a second allow that feeling to get in the way of the job he has to do at Twickenham on Saturday.
“There is that, but as a player you know that the people you have to impress… no disrespect to you guys, but it’s not you guys. It’s Eddie, the coaches and your team-mates,” Robshaw said. “They are the ones you have to impress and show your worth to the team. That doesn’t just happen on a Saturday; that happens in every training session, every day. You have to keep performing well.
“Of course I am excited and looking forward to the weekend. I’m just enjoying my rugby. Whether that comes in a co-captain capacity this weekend or just playing and doing my best for the team, as a player I’m not going to change. I’m going to perform the best I can whether I have half an armband on or not. I’m still going to do my best for the side and work my hardest to be the best player that I can be.”
Robshaw and Ford lead their country – for the second time this year after the summer non-cap match against the Barbarians – due to Dylan Hartley’s absence from the starting XV. Of course, no one is suggesting that Robshaw has returned to the captaincy outright, with Hartley already confirmed by Jones as the skipper when the Six Nations comes around providing he maintains form and discipline over the next two months..
But it’s worth noting that when Jones appointed Hartley, he also selected three vice-captains in Owen Farrell, Billy Vunipola and Mike Brown. Farrell and Vunipola won’t feature on Saturday, but Brown is in the side and it is testament to Robshaw’s resilience – and Ford’s emergence as a leader himself – that they have been given the duty to captain the side.
“It’s probably one of those things where you don’t think too much of it,” adds Robshaw. “When Dylan comes on, he’ll take over and we’ll support him. You are always extremely proud to play for your country, whether it’s a co-captaincy capacity, captaincy or just playing, it’s always such an honour, especially at Twickenham, 82,000 people, running out and singing the national anthem, it’s incredible.
“For myself and George this week, not much has changed. We try and support the team as best we can, I’ll try and help with defence as best we can, you have people like Maro [Itoje], Dan Cole and Joe Launchbury who will take a lineout role, a scrum role, a maul role, and you have leaders in every single department. Everyone takes ownership.
“We are doing it for this game while Dylan is not playing and as soon as he is playing again, he will be captain.”
At 31 years old, it’s no surprise that Robshaw has been entrusted to lead what is a very young side against the Samoans. But Ford is still just 24 years old, and it’s worth mentioning just how far the Leicester Tigers fly-half has come since making his debut three years ago, given his unassuming style and relative quietness compared to the barking leaders like Hartley and Farrell.
“I enjoy it (co captaincy) – it just fits in with what I do in the week and in the game,” Ford said. “Not much changes. What the coaches and Eddie want is the players to drive things, to pick everything up and lead things and take things forward. From Dylan to Owen to Maro to George Kruis to Danny Care we are all trying to do our bit to try and take this team forward.”
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