Chris Robshaw warns Ireland they could pay the price for ‘poking the bear’ as ex-England captain ‘quietly confident’ of Six Nations upset
Chris Robshaw previews the Ireland v England fixture in the Six Nations.
Chris Robshaw has warned Ireland they could pay the price for critics of England continually ‘poking the bear’ in the autumn – and has named the Smith he believes should lead their attack in Dublin.
The former England captain watched his old team lose three of their four Twickenham Tests in November and end 2024 with just five wins from 12 attempts.
It dropped Steve Borthwick’s misfiring team to seventh in the world rankings and they must now open their Six Nations campaign against three countries ranked above them in the global order.
Quietly confident
Robshaw knows how small the margins are between success and failure in rugby’s greatest annual tournament, having finished second in each of his four campaigns as skipper despite just four championship defeats between 2012-15.
He acknowledges defence is a major work-on for England, who conceded 95 points in successive losses to New Zealand, Australia and South Africa before Christmas.
But he says: “I’m quietly confident for England going to Ireland for the first game. You know what it’s like when everyone keeps poking the bear – and everyone has with this England side, saying they’re not what they were – sooner or later you’re going to get a response.
“There are definitely things they need to fix but if the ball goes two inches to the left against New Zealand they win, if Maro [Itoje] takes that final restart against Australia they win, if they don’t have two charge downs against South Africa they don’t lose to the best side in the world by a couple of scores.
“England are playing good attack and I feel there’s an opportunity for them in Ireland. Sort out their defence and in a year or two I think they’re going to be a phenomenal side.”
Borthwick must decide who to entrust with the keys to No.10. Marcus Smith is the man in possession but there is a growing clamour for him to be moved to full-back and Northampton namesake Fin to get his first start at fly-half.
“I thought Marcus was England’s best player in the autumn yet all of a sudden there is a debate and I’m surprised [about that] actually,” says Robshaw.
“At the start of November I felt Marcus needed a big autumn as some people were saying he’s only playing because Owen Farrell has moved abroad, or George Ford is injured.
“I know the guy well, he’s a good guy, but I felt he needed a good autumn to have people say ‘you’re the No.10 now’. I think he delivered that. This game moves on very quickly though. People forget.”
Robshaw reckons this weekend’s crunch Investec Champions Cup matches will provide Borthwick with an important pointer. Marcus Smith plays for Harlequins at home to Glasgow, Fin Smith for Saints against Munster at the Gardens.
Quins need maximum points to be sure of a place in the Round of 16 while Saints, already qualified, can bag a home tie with victory of their own.
Show you’re the best
“You want to go into the Six Nations block performing well for your club,” says Robshaw, who will be on punditry duty for host broadcaster Premier Sports at his old club Quins.
“Especially when people are saying X, Y or Z should be playing ahead of you. As a player you try to ignore it but you can’t. It’s natural. You get drawn into it.
“Your mindset is to want to extinguish doubt. To show you’re the best in your position, so if there’s a 50-50 it’s going to go your way. There’s a lot up for grabs this weekend.”
Chris Robshaw is part of the premier Sports team bringing UK & Ireland rugby fans every game live in the Investec Champions Cup. Visit www.premiersports.tv to sign-up.
