Leader: Chris Robshaw
Harlequins flanker Chris Robshaw has been reappointed as England captain for the upcoming Six Nations Championship next month.
Robshaw, who led England to second place in last season's Championship, will skipper the team against Scotland in the opener at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday, February 2.
"Chris stepped into the role 12 months ago, when we were building a new team, and he has grown as a leader on and off the field," said England head coach Stuart Lancaster.
"He showed those leadership qualities during the November Internationals, and especially against the All Blacks when the whole squad got behind him. We have a number of leaders and I know they will all take this team forwards with Chris as we look to kick on from that result."
"Stuart told me this afternoon and I am really pleased to be asked again," said Robshaw.
"There are other leaders in the squad that Stuart could have turned to so I am really honoured. The lads have been great over the last year and now we our focus is on building on the New Zealand performance and getting a result against Scotland."
In other news, Freddie Burns was assessed by the England medics in consultation with Gloucester following the knee injury sustained in the Amlin Challenge Cup on Saturday.
The fly-half will stay with England at their Leeds training camp and his knee will be scanned over the next few days to establish the full extent of the problem.
Comments
APV1 says...
"There are other leaders in the squad that Stuart could have turned to so I am really honoured. The lads have been great over the last year and now our focus is on building on the New Zealand performance and getting a result against Scotland."
@ Isograford - the result wasn't mentioned, just the performance. And it was a heck of a performance and one worth "building on".
And beating the universally acknowledged best team in the world is probably something I'd mention in every conversation I could. What an achievement!
Have you ever achieved anything which compares to that?
Posted 15:00 22nd January 2013
IronManI441 says...
I agree with many of the posters here in saying a great leader is not always the best player. This happens in every sport and in every walk of life. However what is crucial is the image he gives off. He is talented, hard working and honest, and does not put anything less than 100% into every game.
I agree that Wood and Morgan (Billy V.) could end up being both stronger back row players, leaving the captain as the weak link in the back row, but it doesnt matter. As long as the players respect him and are willing to plow themselves into the ground for him, that is all that matters.
@Leebok - Wrong. Do you really think that having a player with a guaranteed spot is good for anyone. Absolutely not. It destroys any players trying to take that spot and makes the captain fall back on his laurels. Look at France. Dusautoir is still world class, but a new captain has emerged and it makes it clear if you perform and the captain is injured or playing poorly you will get your chance.
My only concern with Robshaw is that there is already arguably a case for him to not even be considered in the back row for reasons other than leadership (talent). Lancaster just needs to be aware that if he can't even make the squad then he has to go. As long as he holds down a position for his ability fine and if he still a god , but when he doesn't then he needs to be cut from the 15, and a new captain named.
Posted 14:35 22nd January 2013
benski says...
@leebok..... Er Jean De Villers....John Smit..... Best in their positions?? I think not.
Posted 12:11 22nd January 2013
APV1 says...
Absolutely the correct call. He's only made two obvious blunders - in the Aus and SA matches - and they weren't all his fault (note to 10s - do as the skipper instructs, it's not a f*cking democracy!).
I still think he's one of the best contenders for the Lions Captaincy too.
leebok - CR was given the role on a temporary basis for last year's 6N, which was extended over the Autumn. SL doesn't do longer term, as he is aware that fitness and form can drop, so the Captain may need to change. No-one's surprised, as both CR's form and fitness are excellent, but it's never a foregone thing. Unlike SA who flog dead horses, we go with the best according to form and fitness.
I would also dispute that, "Your captain should be a world class player who is 1st on the team sheet and will get into any other team." The best player may not be the best leader - they can be very different things. For example, JW wasn't our best captain, despite being the best 10 in the world at the time. John Smit wasn't the best 2 in SA, but SA continued to flog that horse far past his international sell-by date. The only plausible reason I ever heard was his ability as a leader, not a player. And, as others have mentioned, who is the current captain of SA? And would they walk into any other test team? Certainly not a "Top Tier" team.
@ heart_of_oak - Hear! Hear! Burns is a huge concern. If OF is our starting 10, that means we'll have to have Flood as back-up.
Posted 11:58 22nd January 2013
Irishzimbabwean says...
Is also my first choice as Lions captain. Will be interesting to see how he gets on away to both Ireland and Wales this Six Nations.
Have no idea what Leebok is on about - would either Jean De Villiers or Nathan Sharpe be regarded as "world class" or "first on the teamsheet"?
Robshaw also highly underated as a player - does a huge amount of unglamorous work (same as Tom Wood) which allows the highly over-rated duo of Waldrom and Morgan to run around with the ball.
Posted 05:25 22nd January 2013
TVaddict says...
@leebok
Like the springbok captain right? Ha!
@Isograford
Gee, at least wait till we play another international to complain. Teams usually talk about their last match you imbecile.
Anyway, I think Robshaw is an extremely underrated player. He's got the best engine I've ever seen, great tackle rate, great linker, great ball carrier and he's a lineout option. I trust him to lead this team.
Posted 01:36 22nd January 2013
melkdave says...
Was there any dought really that C.Robshaw would be reappointed as England captain.A good call io,by SLand Co,consistency is good atm for England ,as we build for 2015.Also,the more leadership experiance he and others can attain is never a bad thing imo.
Posted 01:18 22nd January 2013
DBRowan says...
leebok - he may not have the same rep as guys like Warburton, but over the past season you have to say that he has been extremely solid and dependable for Quins and England at least, and at best great. Opta stats did a comparison of Robshaw, Rennie, O'Brien and Warburton in the 2012 international season. Robshaw led in carries, tackles (had 141 to second place Rennie's 114 - O'Brien: 90, Warburton: 84), and passes. He conceded the fewest penalties, and was second in turnovers won.
He clearly has had a good year, and aside from that he is setting a strong positive example to all the young guys in the squad. Captains have to be able to walk into any other team? Would Jean De Villiers walk into England or Ireland like Habana could? Jamie Heaslip wouldn't be preferred to Louis Picamoles in a team like Rob Kearney would be over Benjamin Fall. A captain reflects a teams spirit, inspires them, and puts their best foot forward dependably every night - is not always the star name.
Posted 00:29 22nd January 2013
sirtidychris says...
Right choice, England captains will always be under pressure from the media these days, Corry, Dorthwick, Moody have all had massive media witch hunts after them. The only nailed on starters in the team are tuilagi and cole and neither are captaincy material. Robshaw is one of the best flankers in Britain and has been performing amazingly for several years he is also captain of the Ap champions
Posted 23:17 21st January 2013
lawynd says...
No mention of the result, Isografod...perhaps a trip back to junior school for some reading comprehension lessons?
So who's the Bok captain, leebok? Because Jean de Villiers is certainly not the best player in his position...
Posted 22:48 21st January 2013
JamieTheProp says...
The England team are moving forward, Robshaw is growing as a captain and hasn't put in a bad performance in playing terms since becoming captain. England have been poor in recent years and one performance against New Zealand does not a good team make - but it is a taster of how we can play and is also the last game we played - so it is relevant.
Under Robshaw England will compete for the 6 Nations this year - we might not win it but we will be in the top 2 which is fine at this stage while developing a squad with strength in depth under a new but improving coaching team.
Keep sledging us and we'll just keep quietly improving while other teams seem to be going in the other direction.
We need to be consistent against NH opposition and the look to competing with the SH - then you never know what might happen in 2015...
Fingers crossed!
Posted 21:52 21st January 2013
heart_of_oak says...
inevitable really - Hartley's a loose cannon, Wood doesn't have the captaincy experience... who else could they have chosen ?
I'm personally more concerned about this injury to Freddy Burns. I see him as our best choice fly half though I'm probably the only one who does.
Posted 21:51 21st January 2013
Isograford says...
Are they going to be able to make any quotes without mentioning the All Blacks result? They won against the All Blacks in 1993 and went on about it for 9 years until they won again, then another 9 years until their recent result over them.
Here's to another 9 years of basking in a win against a tired and probably pretty ill team until they manage another one.
Posted 21:15 21st January 2013
leebok says...
Just shows the poor quality of English rugby. hey have to re-announce their captain! Your captain should be a world class player who is 1st on the team sheet and will get into any other team. Robshaw clearly isnt.
Posted 20:34 21st January 2013
Jediboy says...
I think that's the right call. He is developing into a good skipper, jut needs to be first choice in his position.
Posted 20:17 21st January 2013