Lancaster on England, Robshaw and the autumn internationals | talkSPORT Lancaster on England, Robshaw and the autumn internationals England coach Stuart Lancaster By Mark Coughlan - @coffers83 Thursday, October 31, 2013 This feature appears in the current edition of Sport magazine. Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand, and follow on Twitter @Sportmaguk Ahead of the Autumn Internationals, we asked the England coach to talk us through his journey so far – and explain the challenges to come with the Six Nations and beyond. THE EARLY DAYS IN THE JOB... “Obviously there was a bit of pressure to do well when I took the role. But, because it was an interim job, and because I understood the culture and knew a lot of the players coming through – I’d been involved coaching the Saxons, worked with the academies and the players, and I’d been involved with the senior team – I had a good understanding of what I felt needed to change and what direction we needed to go to build towards 2015.

I guess the ‘interim’ title gave me a freedom to put my mark on it the way that I felt it should have been done. What really motivates me? “Winning the World Cup is a huge motivation, obviously, but so is building that long-term sustained success for England – one that runs right the way through the clubs, the academies, the international age grade teams and through to the senior team. If we can have that, and emerge as a highly respected and feared international team, I think that will be the ultimate success.” THE STUART LANCASTER BLUEPRINT… “All coaches have their own philosophy about the way they want to build the game. Ultimately, when I look at the top end of the club or international game, there are a lot of different ways of playing the game to win – the Lions showed that you can play one way and win, and New Zealand play a different way to achieve success. “What’s really important in teams is that you have a clear philosophy, and people buy into it. So I was very clear on that. The first two games after I took charge, we spent a lot of time talking about what playing for England means and remembering the reason why. We did okay in the first year.

But there’s no doubt about it – if you look at the way we were playing the game then, and the way we played in Argentina, for example, it is different. And we’ve shown that in patches – New Zealand and Scotland [this past year] in particular, where we’ve really moved the ball and played some attacking rugby. “There are occasions when you have to win a different way, like in Dublin [in February], but there’s definitely been a development in the way we’ve played the game, which is pleasing. When you lose a game, particularly when you’re an international coach, I can assure you it is very disappointing because you feel like you’ve let the country down. "When I look back on it, though, even going to South Africa and losing two Tests [17-22 and 27-36] by less than a score and drawing the third Test – I’m disappointed to have lost those. But, in the context of where we were, it was a pretty successful tour, and it really helped us to develop into the team we are now.” THE ARGENTINA TOUR… “After the Six Nations, Argentina became a big focus and we had three objectives from that tour. One was to win both Tests.

I wanted to finish the season with a record of winning seven of the last eight games, which we achieved. The second was to develop a greater pool of talent in certain positions, so there are more options to choose from. It’s hard sometimes to put inexperienced players into an inexperienced team. I’m constantly wrestling with that in the Six Nations, but now some lads have had more experience training and playing with us because you can’t just bring players into the squad to train. Players like Christian Wade, Marland Yarde and Kyle Eastmond hadn’t really been training with us because of the nature of the Elite Player Squad agreement, so to then put them in the team is a big step. “Now they’ve had that experience, it gives us a great opportunity to create that strength in depth. The third area was to rest key players who were disappointed to not make the Lions, or tired after a long season.

This was the last break they’d get before the World Cup, and I’m sure people like Chris Ashton , Chris Robshaw , Danny Care and Toby Flood will come back fitter and fresher.” THE CAPTAIN… “In terms of picking Chris Robshaw to lead the team when I first took over, it wasn’t a hard decision at all. I didn’t make it until the end of the Leeds camp. The reason was that I didn’t know all the players, so I wanted to look at one or two and spend some time with them. Chris had captained Harlequins, obviously, and also England Saxons when I was in charge there. So, from that point of view, it wasn’t that hard. “With the job comes profile, and you realise when you’re in that role that it isn’t just about captaining the team – there’s a whole load of other stuff. He’s managed it really well, and it was the right decision at the end of the season – having not made the Lions – to give him a break.

When he looks back, the pros far outweigh the cons for Chris having not made the World Cup in 2011, and I’m sure he’ll become a better player again this season having not made the Lions. I will always back him.” THE AUTUMN AND BEYOND… “We’re definitely a lot closer to the ‘ultimate goal’ than we’ve ever been before. Argentina showed that, but the proof will be in the pudding, in the Autumn Internationals and the Six Nations. The players have an understanding of how we want to play, and I hope they’ll fit seamlessly back into it now we’re 18 months in. There’s still a long way to go to the World Cup, and we have to maximise the time we have together. “Maximising home advantage is a key thing for us. We’re looking to create a playing style the crowd can connect with, and play in a way that they associate with that makes them proud to see the team. We’ve only got two home games in the Six Nations, then three games away in New Zealand next summer, then it’s suddenly one year out from the World Cup. Starting tomorrow, we have five games at home this season.

Every one of them is of crucial importance.” BMW is offering fans the chance to win a lift home from the QBE Internationals in a BMW Sweet Chariot. For more information, visit rfu.com/BMWSweetchariots England captain Chris Robshaw relieved of role at Harlequins to focus on Rugby World Cup preparations - Telegraph Club England captain Chris Robshaw relieved of role at Harlequins to focus on Rugby World Cup preparations Chris Robshaw replaced as Harlequins captain as flanker prepares to focus on England's preparations for the Rugby World Cup England expects: Chris Robshaw will concentrate on his international duties in the countdown to the Rugby World Cup Photo: PA By Gavin Mairs , Rugby News Correspondent 3:14PM BST 04 Aug 2014 Follow Harlequins have taken the club captaincy off Chris Robshaw mainly because he is likely to lead England to the World Cup next year. Members of the Harlequins squad were said to have reacted with surprise when told on Monday by director of rugby Conor O’Shea that Joe Marler, the England prop, would replace Robshaw as club captain.

Robshaw’s four years in the job included winning the Aviva Premiership title win in 2012. O’Shea, however, told The Daily Telegraph on Monday that he had first broached the subject with Robshaw more than 12 months ago in an attempt to relieve some of the pressure on the flanker in the final season before England host the World Cup. O’Shea, who also spoke to England head coach Stuart Lancaster about the decision, believes the move is crucial to ensure club and country get the best from Robshaw in the run-up to the World Cup, given the expected extra pressure and spotlight on the 28 year-old. Robshaw has captained England in 27 of his 28 appearances since being appointed to the job in 2012 and is already third in the all-time captaincy records behind Martin Johnson (39) and Will Carling (59).

Related Articles England have to stop wasting try-scoring chances 22 Jun 2014 “It has been something I had been considering for well over 12 months because I could see being captain of England is not an easy job,” O’Shea said on the eve of a five-day trip to France, where Harlequins will face Grenoble on Saturday. “There is a lot of responsibility, weight of expectation and a focus on you the whole time. “As Chris is in such a strong position within England, I looked at how we could help him be at his best for Quins and be fresh as well for the whole year without me putting more and more strain on him. “I also spoke to Stuart [Lancaster] about it and told him what I was thinking. “Stuart will never go as far as to say what is going on, but I think it would be safe to say that as long as Chris Robshaw is in the [England] team, and he has been three years as England captain, then he is going to captain them to the World Cup.

“I would never put words in Stuart’s mouth and Chris knows he has to be in the team.” O’Shea cited the All Blacks’ Richie McCaw and Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll as examples of national captains who did not always lead their provincial sides in his discussions with Robshaw, who is said to be comfortable with the decision. “There comes a stage when he comes back from playing for England, after captaining the side and doing all the press conferences, does he want to be standing up again and leading from the front?” O’Shea added. “He understands where I am coming from. I have done it with the best interests of Quins, Chris and to an extent England at heart, but with my selfish hat on it is all about Harlequins. “I think this will be the best thing for Harlequins but I also think it is going to be best in the long term for Chris. I just want him to be energised and fresh.

“I want him to be able to come back into the group or when he is in the build-up to the autumn internationals and the Six Nations to focus on being Chris Robshaw the rugby player.” O’Shea said Marler, one of the club’s more colourful characters, was the perfect successor as captain because he bridged the gap between the young members of the squad and the established England internationals such as Danny Care, Mike Brown and Robshaw. At 24 he will be one of the youngest captains in the history of the Premiership but has already made more than 100 appearances for Harlequins and also has 22 England caps to his name. “It will be great from Joe’s point of view,” O’Shea added. “He will bring his own personality to it and a huge amount of pride. “I am sure there are a few people with raised eyebrows but having discussed it over the last 12 months I felt it was the year to make the change.

“Chris has been the most successful captain in Quins history but it is time for a new and exciting chapter and we are all going into the new season looking forward to it immensely.” Marler said: “It will be good to be able to take the pressure off him [Robshaw] as he heads into a huge year with England. I’m really honoured to be asked to lead a special group like this and a great club, and I can’t wait to get stuck in.” Ireland vs England preview: The making of Chris Robshaw | The Independent International Ireland vs England preview: The making of Chris Robshaw Dyslexia, doing stand-up, criticism of his leadership – the England rugby union captain tells Hugh Godwin, ahead of Sunday’s big Ireland clash, that he is used to challenges Saturday 28 February 2015 18:58 BST Click to follow The Independent Online England captain Chris Robshaw Andrew Fosker/Seconds Left/REX Ask Chris Robshaw the best way to make him laugh, a few days before he captains England in this afternoon’s potentially epoch-making match in Ireland, and he stares at the ceiling of the oak-panelled room where we meet.

The thick white wrapping of strapping on his huge upper arm indicates the next training session is nigh. Still, he mulls the question over, seeking to provide a genuine answer. “I went to see Jack Whitehall live recently,” is the reply. “I like a bit of stand-up. Dry humour, I like: the American Office, Peep Show, stuff like that. Awkward humour.” Robshaw tried stand-up comedy once, awkward enough for most of us and even more so for him, rehearsing and performing a script as a lifelong sufferer of dyslexia. It was not with designs on a future occupation – he has a coffee-shop business on the go and, if he becomes a winning England captain in the World Cup being staged in this country in September and October, a lifetime of lucrative personal appearances awaits. He did it to force himself “out of the comfort zone”. He has always pushed himself to improve. “I’ve had acting classes too,” Robshaw says. “In the long run it’s been extremely beneficial for me, being able to stand up in team meetings, and cope with public speaking.

It’s a fear for a lot of people but I have conquered it.” On that night on a pub stage he made sure he was the butt of his own joke, the old one about the dyslexic who went to a toga party dressed as a goat. Haha, lol.

Six Nations 2015 in pictures Six Nations 2015 in pictures 1/61 Scotland 10 Ireland 40 Jonathan Sexton began to crack under pressure before converting penalty to take Ireland ahead of Wales Getty Images 2/61 Scotland 10 Ireland 40 Sean O'Brien touches down for his second try of the match Getty Images 3/61 Scotland 10 Ireland 40 Sean O'Brien scores for Ireland Getty Images 4/61 Scotland 10 Ireland 40 Paul O'Connell scores for Ireland Getty Images 5/61 Italy 20 Wales 61 Liam Williams scores for Wales Getty Images 6/61 Italy 20 Wales 61 George North scores for Wales Getty Images 7/61 Italy 20 Wales 61 Jamie Roberts carries the ball for Wales Getty Images 8/61 Italy 20 Wales 61 Italy sing the national anthem ahead of kick-off Getty Images 9/61 Italy 0 France 29 France celebrate after Mathieu Bastareaud scores a try Getty Images 10/61 Italy 0 France 29 Italy failed to score a single point in the disappointing defeat to

 France.

Getty 11/61 Italy 0 France 29 Yoann Maestri dives over the line for a try GETTY 12/61 England 25 Scotland 13 Chris Robshaw lifts the Calcutta Cup after beating Scotland Getty Images 13/61 England 25 Scotland 13 George Ford scores his try in the 25-13 win over Scotland but England wasted many of the opportunities he created EPA 14/61 England 25 Scotland 13 Mark Bennett scores a try to get Scotland back into the game.

Getty Images 15/61 England 25 Scotland 13 Jonathan Joseph of England breaks through the tackle from Stuart Hogg of Scotland to score the opening try GETTY IMAGES 16/61 Wales 23 Ireland 16 Sam Warburton celebrates Wales' win over Ireland GETTY IMAGES 17/61 Wales 23 Ireland 16 Samson Lee suffered an Achilles injury in the win over Ireland Getty Images 18/61 Wales 23 Ireland 16 Ireland wing Tommy Bowe reacts after the first Wales try GETTY IMAGES 19/61 Wales 23 Ireland 16 Scott Williams of Wales dives over for the opening try GETTY IMAGES 20/61 Ireland 19 England 9 Robbie Henshaw crosses the line for Ireland GETTY IMAGES 21/61 Ireland 19 England 9 The master Johnny Sexton gives the apprentice George Ford a lesson at fly half, epitomising Ireland's indomitable spirit and prowess.

Getty Images 22/61 Ireland 19 England 9 Jonathan Sexton scored 14 points to stretch Ireland's lead Getty Images 23/61 France 13 Wales 20 Morgan Parra kept France in touch until they conceded a try Getty Images 24/61 France 13 Wales 20 Dan Biggar touches down under the attentions of Brice Dulin for Wales' match-winning try Getty Images 25/61 France 13 Wales 20 France look dejected after defeat to Wales Getty Images 26/61 Scotland 19 Italy 22 Italy celebrate scoring their second try Getty Images 27/61 Scotland 19 Italy 22 Josh Furno emerges with the ball after scoring a try for Italy Getty Images 28/61 Scotland 19 Italy 22 Tommy Seymour evades the tackle of Enrico Bacchinof Getty Images 29/61 Scotland 19 Italy 22 Mark Bennett runs in for an interception try Getty Images 30/61 Scotland 23 Wales 26 Hogg sprints away from the flailing Welsh defence for the game's opening try GETTY 3

1/61 Scotland 23 Wales 26 Leigh Halfpenny was his usual metronomic self from the kicking tee as Wales game back into the game 32/61 Scotland 23 Wales 26 Dan Biggar was upended by Scotland's Fin Russell, who was sent to the sin bin as a result GETTY IMAGES 33/61 Scotland 23 Wales 26 Alex Cuthbert was tackled as Wales looked for a swift response GETTY 34/61 Scotland 23 Wales 26 Rhys Webb scored Wales' first try while Finn Russell was in the sin bin GETTY 35/61 Scotland 23 Wales 26 Jonathan Davies was sent to the sin bin before he popped up with Wales' second try 36/61 Scotland 23 Wales 26 Liam Williams impressed as a replacement for the concussed George North GETTY 37/61 Scotland 23 Wales 26 Davies' solo try gave Wales an unassailable late lead GETTY 38/61 Scotland 23 Wales 26 Geoff Cross looks on dejected as Scotland contemplate yet another defeat to Wales GETTY 39/6

1 Ireland 18 France 11 Jonathan Sexton celebrates victory with Tommy Bowe Getty Images 40/61 Ireland 18 France 11 Morgan Parra runs into Rory Kockott Getty Images 41/61 Ireland 18 France 11 Jonathan Sexton bleeds from a cut during Ireland's 18-11 victory over France Getty Images 42/61 England 47 Italy 17 Nick Easter waves to hae crowd after the victory, in which he scored England's sixth try Getty Images 43/61 England 47 Italy 17 Danny Cipriani dives over the line to score a try Getty Images 44/61 England 47 Italy 17 Jonathan Joseph scores his second try against Italy Getty Images 45/61 England 47 Italy 17 George Kruis celebrates with Ben Youngs after scoring Getty Images 46/61 England 47 Italy 17 Jonathan Joseph scores a try for England Getty Images 47/61 England 47 Italy 17 Billy Vunipola scores for England Getty Images 48/61 England 47 Italy 1

7 Mike Brown is knocked out after a collision with Andrea Masi Getty Images 49/61 England 47 Italy 17 Sergio Parisse scores a try for Italy Getty Images 50/61 France 15 Scotland 8 Dougie Fife scores a try for Scotland in the defeat to France Getty Images 51/61 France 15 Scotland 8 Rory Kockott passes the ball under the attentions of Richie Gray Getty Images 52/61 France 15 Scotland 8 Camille Lopez kicked France to victory as he scored 15 points with his boot Getty Images 53/61 Italy 3 Ireland 26 Tommy O'Donnell fends off two defenders to run 40m and score for Ireland Getty Images 54/61 Italy 3 Ireland 26 Ian Keatley in action for Ireland against Italy GETTY IMAGES 55/61 Italy 3 Ireland 26 Conor Murray scored Ireland's first try Getty Images 56/61 Wales 16 England 21 England captain Chris Robshaw celebrates the 21-16 victory over Wales Getty Images 57/61 Wales 16 England 

21 Billy Vunipola of England celebrates Dave Attwood's which was later ruled out after the TMO saw an obstruction from Nick Easter GETTY IMAGES 58/61 Wales 16 England 21 George North was partly at fault for England's second try, scored by Jonathan Joseph, after he broke three tackles to score.

Getty Images 59/61 Wales 16 England 21 Anthony Watson (left) beats the Wales cover defence of Leight Halfpenny and Jonathan Davies to score England’s first try. AFP 60/61 Wales 16 England 21 England had a clear advantage in the scrum that they used as the basis of their attack. Getty Images 61/61 Wales 16 England 21 Wales’ Rhys Webb avoids an attempted tackle by England’s Jonny May as he heads over to score the opening try. AP He continues: “People ask about captaincy and it is about thinking clearly but also about jumping in and doing it. You learn through trial and error. Making big decisions in the last five minutes? It’s exciting. When I watch a rugby game, and there’s a penalty, I look at the clock and think what I would do, and try to master it.” Anyone who has seriously doubted Robshaw – and that has included himself – has tended to be confounded. “As a kid I was quite big, so I enjoyed the physical side of rugby,” he says. “And it allowed me to really focus on something.

When kids are dyslexic they need an avenue to be good at something, to be rewarded. You see a lot of dyslexic people going into sport, into music or art. For me that was my escape from the classroom. “I went to Millfield School where they specialised in dyslexia and the teachers were good at that, though you don’t see it at the time – I probably hated it. I remember when you had to read a line each, as it went around the classroom, and hating that. You’re in your break-time having to do extra work and all your friends are out playing. It’s just a bit slower taking the knowledge in, whether it’s reading stuff, or writing. In the long run it’s been extremely beneficial for me.” Read more Ford driven to overtake Sexton The stage on Sunday is Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. Each side needs a win to stay on course for the Grand Slam, which would be England’s first since 2003 and just their second in 20 years. Before the win over Wales that got England’s Six Nations Championship up and running, Robshaw’s stubborn refusal to leave the Millennium Stadium tunnel until it suited his team appeared to cement him as England’s leading man.

But it has never come easy. At 18, Robshaw signed for Harlequins on a £4,000-a-year academy contract. Two years of withering injuries followed. He broke a metatarsal in his left foot, then the fibula in his right leg, then he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Harlequins were entitled to get shot of him but Dean Richards, then director of rugby, kept faith. The youngster drew support from his family, who in turn had to generate their own collective strength after Robshaw’s father, Alan, died of a heart attack at the age of 40. His mum Pat is a state-registered nurse who runs two care homes in Croydon, near the Warlingham rugby club in whose comforting surroundings the boys took up the game. Chris is the middle of three brothers: Alex, 31, is a Lloyds city trader on sabbatical on a round-the-world trip with his girlfriend; 26-year-old James works in London in sports hospitality.

England captain Robshaw celebrates victory over Wales James tells me: “My mum gave Chris a few words, saying ‘you’ve really got to stick to rugby if you want to do it’. I don’t think he had many other plans. Chris has always been a laid-back guy, while very focused on what he does. If we go out to a restaurant Alex would be the one doing the ordering, telling people what’s going on. Chris would be quieter, sitting back a bit – and I guess I’d be the one trying to be the centre of attention.” Pat is in Ireland already, making a trip of it with Chris’s aunt and uncle, and cousins. At Twickenham matches they raise a big England flag with the best of them. Robshaw was 10 when he left Cumnor House school in his native south London to go to Millfield, the renowned Somerset hothouse of sport.

Steve Shortland was his rugby coach in later years, appointing him first XV captain, and is proud now to share the words he wrote in Robshaw’s final school report: “Chris is a natural leader… he has become the perfect role model within the school… his work-rate in open play in attack and defence is second to none.” The odds are that Stuart Lancaster, England’s head coach, would write just the same in 2015. But when he gave Robshaw the captaincy in January 2012, it was initially for two matches. The back row was then a wasteland of injuries and retirements. Some believed Robshaw was merely keeping the captaincy warm for the injured Tom Wood, the garrulous Northampton Saints flanker, even though quality judges, including the former England centre Will Greenwood, had long been making flattering comparisons with a back-row genius, Richard Hill. Stuart Lancaster was visibly ecstatic after the win in Cardiff The Robshaw CV was a combination of silver-medal material and gold.

He had played only one match for England but almost 150 for Quins; he had won the Premiership player of the year award in 2009, and was fast on his way to the 2012 version. He was no more than a replacement in England Under-21s’ Grand Slam in 2006 and he helped the second-string Saxons win the Churchill Cup in Chicago in June 2008 (on the same day as senior England players in New Zealand were embroiled in allegations over off-field behaviour). This reporter well remembers noting a match at Northampton on New Year’s Day 2011 when Robshaw outplayed the more talked about Wood, just as he outshone the mighty Sergio Parisse when Quins beat Stade Français in Paris in December 2008, and captained Harlequins to the second-tier Amlin Challenge Cup in 2011, followed by their first Premiership title in May 2012.

Some have called for Steffon Armitage to play But England were now deploying Robshaw as a tackling, linking flanker; he is neither a flashy openside over the ball such as Neil Back or Steffon Armitage nor a pile-driving defensive hitter such as Joe Worsley. “As time goes on, your shoulders become a little bit broader,” he says. “There was criticism of me the autumn before last, over a few decisions, and it was pretty tough although I think it’s more about your family and about how they react. I learnt a lot about myself, and a lot about the character of the squad we have here. It was tremendous seeing the guys support me.” He admits he tried to take on too much when he became Harlequins’ captain in 2010. The club have eased the pressure by releasing him from the club captaincy this season. There used to be an in-joke among team-mates about teasing the earnest skipper to get the team bus stopped at the next service station even if they might be only 40 minutes from the hotel, or checking what colour shoes they needed to be wearing.

But they love him, really, because he has never stopped grafting, consulting over leadership with former international captains Lawrence Dallaglio and Sean Fitzpatrick, and cricket’s Andrew Strauss. World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio (c) has helped Robshaw in the captaincy department “Mentally sometimes you need an escape, and when I go and see a comedian I say ‘yeah, yeah, I know what that’s like’,” says Robshaw, allowing that dry humour to come through. “But I don’t fly a plane or take helicopter lessons. Mostly, I’ll go to the coffee shop to learn the business or play a bit of golf.” He and his singer partner Camilla Kerslake enjoy taking Rico the dog for walks in the park near their Kingston home (he’s an Affenpinscher, reminiscent of a black Scottish terrier). “The way rugby is going with sponsors and TV crews and so on – getting the game out there, getting it into parks – it is brilliant. You see hundreds of kids playing in the rain, mucking around and really enjoying it.

That is what I did.” The captain and his partner Camilla Kerslake Two weeks ago after England’s second win in this Six Nations against Italy, Robshaw slipped momentarily amid the customary cluster of microphones, saying “Ant Allen” as a team-mate’s name instead of “Ant Watson”. Allen, a sometime England player not in the current squad, was with Robshaw at Millfield; they celebrated together on the November morning in 2003 when Martin Johnson’s England won the World Cup in Australia. “We were all jumping around and everyone was practising their Jonny Wilkinson drop goals off both feet and missing them,” Robshaw recalls. “It was brilliant and of course you want to replicate that [now].” After all, at 28, he has yet to play in a World Cup or on a Lions tour. Shortland remembers that time too, but for a different reason: “I have never told Chris this, but when he was in his final year, I had a coach of the England Under-19 team in my office. I was pushing Chris and he said to me, ‘I’m sorry, Steve, he won’t be a professional rugby player’. Yet he’s done more than pull through.

He’s nailed it, he’s climbed the mountain.” There is no need to name and shame that Under-19s coach now. He was not alone in reading Chris Robshaw wrong. NatWest are proud to support Rugby. Current account customers can win exclusive rugby experiences. It’s not who you know, it’s who you bank with. Visit natwest.com/rugbyreward Chris Robshaw meets Eddie Jones after Harlequins beat London Irish | Sport | The Guardian Chris Robshaw meets Eddie Jones after Harlequins beat London Irish • New England coach talks to incumbent captain after impressive win • Scrum-half Care scored one of five tries in 38-7 win Danny Care scored one of Harlequins’ five tries in front of the watching England coach, Eddie Jones.

Photograph: Steve Bardens/Getty Images for Harlequins Michael Aylwin at the Twickenham Stoop Sunday 6 December 2015 17.00 EST Last modified on Monday 4 April 2016 07.38 EDT Close This article is 1 year old We will not know for a while yet, but Chris Robshaw , at least, should have a better idea now of what his prospects are as England captain. He met up with Eddie Jones, England’s new head coach, on Saturday night to hold the first of many chats Jones has lined up for himself as he gets to know the key movers and shakers in the English game. It is only right that Robshaw be the first . And the man who now holds his former position as captain of Harlequins is in no doubt that Robshaw wants to continue as national skipper, for all the grief that comes with the job. “Of course he does,” said Danny Care. “I’m sure it’s the ultimate honour to captain England. It’s a huge honour to play for your country once; to captain it must be an unbelievable feeling. I’m sure he’s dying to stay in the role.

He’s had stick from day one, but there aren’t many others I’d pick ahead of him.” Joe Launchbury says quietness should not rule him out of England captaincy Read more One thing’s for sure – anyone who has ever played with Robshaw or coached him seems to swear by him. Care is no different in this regard from Conor O’Shea or Stuart Lancaster. The pressure of a home World Cup did seem to affect Robshaw’s form, but he has been back to his tireless best since. “It’s the measure of the man to see how he’s come back,” said Care. “He has every man and his dog throwing their opinions, saying he shouldn’t be captain. For me, he’s a great England captain, and it’s tough to see him take the stick he does. But he gets on with it, works hard and tries to prove people wrong. He’s bounced back brilliantly from the World Cup.” Care has not done too badly himself . Of Harlequins’ various England internationals out to impress the watching Jones during this rout of London Irish , he shone the brightest. O’Shea is never shy of backing his players, and he didn’t hold back in his celebration of Care.

“There are some great scrum-halves around,” Quins’ director of rugby said. “But I would never pick a 23 without Danny Care in it. Ever. I just don’t know how you could. The man can change a game. Whether he starts or comes on off the bench, he can do things that others can’t.” Certainly, Irish had no answer to Harlequins’ pace and ambition, best personified by the darting, sparkling Care. Five tries resulted, including one for Care himself, who finished a brilliant team effort. There was a hat-trick for Tim Visser, who may yet line up against Jones’s first England selection – for Scotland at Murrayfield in the Six Nations. Eddie Jones’ hopes for England revival at risk from burnout | Robert Kitson Read more And what are the odds of O’Shea himself taking part in said championship? Zero, according to the man himself, but he did confirm that Italy, who are in search of a new head coach themselves, had been in touch. He left them in no doubt, apparently. “It’s flattering, a massive honour, but no, I’m not going anywhere. They’ve talked to me, but that’s natural.

I’m sure they’re talking to a load of people. You’re always linked. There’s England jobs, Ireland jobs, club jobs. And it’s very flattering, but my job is here, full stop.”That job becomes a little less intense for the next two weeks. Harlequins , already top of their pool in the Challenge Cup with 10 points out of 10, now go home and away with Calvisano. The England boys are on holiday for two weeks. Care’s heading off to Antigua with his young family. When they return it will be to run out on the big stage across the road for Quins’ festive shindig – this year against Gloucester. Jones will then have to decide, if he hasn’t already, how many of them will be summoned for England on the same stage.

Harlequins Brown; Lindsay-Hague (Chisholm 24), Lowe, Sloan, Visser; Evans (Botica 74), Care (capt; Dickson 74); Marler (Lambert 74), Ward (Buchanan 71), Jones (Collier 62), Horwill, Twomey (Matthews 10), Robshaw, Wallace (Clifford 74), Easter. Tries Visser 3, Care, Clifford. Cons Evans 4, Botica. Pen Evans. London Irish Ojo; Lewington, Hearn, Griffin (Maitland 23), Tikoirotuma; Noakes (Brophy-Clews 74), Allinson (McKibbin 54); Court (Smallbone 51), Ellis (Cruse 49), Franks (Aulika 64), Sheriff, Sinclair (Curry 74), Sisi (Treviranus 49), Cowan, Narraway (capt). Try Aulika. Con Brophy Clews. Sin-bin Cruse 77. Referee Luke Pearce. Attendance 14,800.

Harlequins vs Leicester match report: Nick Easter eyes Six Nations return | The Independent Club Rugby Harlequins vs Leicester match report: Nick Easter eyes Six Nations return Harlequins 32 Leicester Tigers 12: Warrior No 8 shows he has lost none of his vision at the ripe old age of 36 Saturday 10 January 2015 19:51 BST Click to follow The Independent Online A stunning bonus-point win by Harlequins set them up nicely for the return to European action in the derby with Wasps next Saturday evening, as Nick Easter’s deftness and vision revived talk of the former England No 8 being given another chance by his country, unlikely though it seems at the age of 36. The result thickened the logjam in the chase for Premiership play-off places, with two points covering Wasps in fourth down to Sale in eighth, and Quins and Leicester in between. Tigers, the 10-times champions, will not be going much further domestically or in Europe if this blunt form is the only guide.

Four penalty goals by Owen Williams, who went past 100 Premiership points for the season in the process, was a poor return on eight visits made to the home 22. By contrast, Harlequins’ England captain Chris Robshaw revelled in his first appearance in five weeks after a shoulder injury. Robshaw started hesitantly but, after “taking a whack” from Leicester, as Quins’ director of rugby Conor O’Shea put it, his obdurate link play was crucial in his team’s non-stop offloading. Easter was making his 250th appearance for the club and showed the handling skills and positional sense that have warmed the cockles of Stoopites’ hearts down the years; witness the underarm offload out of Tom Youngs’ tackle that created the first try for Danny Care in the 24th minute. Care has played enough of those 250 matches cheek by jowl with Easter to anticipate the No 8’s every step, and the scrum-half who was facing his England rival Ben Youngs raced into a gap created by quick passing in the aftermath of a line-out.

With the conversion by Ben Botica Quins led 10-9; Botica had kicked one penalty to three by Williams in the opening quarter. Easter has not played a Test since the 2011 World Cup, when neither he nor England covered themselves in glory, but he agreed a two-year contract extension at Quins last week, and O’Shea said the national side’s head coach Stuart Lancaster had told him the door could be reopened for a possible recall this summer. “Nick’s a warrior and the more pressure we’re under, the better he plays,” said O’Shea. With news that England’s incumbent No 8 Ben Morgan of Gloucester had undergone an operation on his broken left leg, there is a vacancy in the national squad to be named on Wednesday week (21 January) for the Six Nations Championship. The England forwards coach Graham Rowntree had a first-hand view of Easter here. So, too, Lawrence Dallaglio, the former national No 8 and captain who in television commentary recommended Easter’s “ability and wise head” should be used against Wales in Cardiff on 6 February.

Exeter’s Thomas Waldrom was next in line during last November’s internationals, and the arguments surrounding Toulon’s Steffon Armitage are well rehearsed. Two minutes before half-time Quins’ insistent handling opened Leicester up again. Graham Kitchener was penalised for killing the ball in his 22, and Care went for the tapped penalty. With Marland Yarde supporting the move well, the ball found its way to the flanker Jack Clifford for a stretching finish. The 15-9 lead became even healthier five minutes into the second half when Yarde scored a bizarre try – only the England wing’s fourth since he joined from London Irish last summer – with a long run from midfield on halfway, untouched by a Leicester hand, after Mike Brown’s counter attack, Botica’s chip towards the corner and Williams’s sliced clearance kick caught by Easter. When Quins had a penalty in the 50th minute, the adrenaline of domination might have prompted a kick to touch looking for the bonus point. But they took a breath and Botica kicked the goal instead for a two-score advantage at 25-9. The fourth try would arrive, eventually, anyway.

Williams replied immediately with a penalty, and Botica missed two tricky attempts for Quins, but the multi-coloured ones weathered a mini-fightback as they went about completing Tigers’ fourth consecutive loss at the Stoop in all competitions. Leicester beat Bath last week, so not all is dire, but they could do with a fit Manu Tuilagi to put oomph into their midfield; they would also like to see Tom Croft revive his old elan and energy – though the Lions flanker made his 100th Premiership appearance here, a telling statistic is that it has taken him more than nine years to achieve the ton, such has been his sad run of injuries. With normal time up, and Quins probing from a midfield scrum, Joe Trayfoot was allowed an off-the-floor pass that Brown raced on to and the full-back’s outside pass was run in by Tim Swiel, the replacement fly-half, who also converted. “We spoke before Christmas about it being time to turn the season round,” said Easter.

“We were close against Northampton, then last week [a 24-13 win at London Welsh] was sticky, so we knew we needed a big performance.” Harlequins: M Brown; M Yarde, M Hopper, G Lowe, U Monye (T Williams, 32); B Botica (T Swiel, 70), D Care; J Marler (capt, D Marfo 75), J Gray (R Buchanan, 65), K Sinckler (W Collier, 62), C Matthews, G Robson (S Twomey, 77), J Clifford (J Trayfoot, 77), C Robshaw, N Easter.

Tries: Care, Clifford, Yarde, Swiel Cons: Botica 2, Swiel Pens: Botica 2 Leicester Tigers: M Tait; A Thompstone (S Bai, 65), V Goneva, A Allen, M Benjamin; O Williams (F Burns, 66-75), B Youngs (capt, S Harrison 63); M Ayerza (M Rizzo, 63), T Youngs (L Ghiraldini, 63), F Balmain (L Mulipola, 56), G Kitchener (S de Chaves, 75), G Parling, T Croft (J Gibson, 56), J Salvi, J Crane (Croft, 77). Pens: Wiliams (4) Chris Robshaw pushing for international honours at Harlequins - Telegraph Club Chris Robshaw pushing for international honours at Harlequins There are certain games you can't ignore. So, as a former Harlequin, I make no apologies for writing about the London side two weeks on the trot.

Going forward: Chris Robshaw impressed with his performance against Stade Francais Photo: GETTY IMAGES By Will Greenwood 8:28PM GMT 12 Dec 2008 On Saturday the return fixture takes place following one of the greatest Heineken Cup performances. Last week a young Quins side beat Stade Francais on their home turf. The French playboys are in town looking for revenge and there is only one place to be. For Quins the result suggested the club have reached a new stage in their development. They are ready to move forward with their players pushing for international honours. Many of their names are already well known to rugby aficionados. We know of Nick Easter, Danny Care, and Nick Evans. There are the players who have been in the first team a while, and who have been doing great things for the team, such as Jordan Turner-Hall, Tom Williams, and Will Skinner. But there is one player who has stood out for me, and who has had a massive influence on what has been going on. He is Chris Robshaw and I think he needs to be fast-tracked to higher honours.

There is one tag I have from my rugby career that I am most proud of and this is 'uncapped Lion'. Plucked from my club side Leicester, not an England game on the horizon, I was taken to South Africa in 1997. Depending on your point of view, it was down to the bravery or foolishness of Fran Cotton and Ian McGeechan. There is no doubt in my mind that without the Heineken Cup, and the intensity it brings and the chance it gives to see players take on the best foreigners, I would never had got the chance to play as a Lion. This year the tournament will showcase young players, most of whom are not yet internationals. It will give them the chance to run before they can walk. And Robshaw's performance last Saturday afternoon puts him in contention for a spot on the blindside of the Lions scrum. It was so good, it has to put him in the mix with Ryan Jones, James Haskell, and Alan Quinlan. There is no doubt he is staring at the back of their heads in terms of selection choices, but he is definitely in the same queue.

Robshaw sported a beard last week – perhaps he was trying to disguise his paltry 22 years of age because everything else he did was that of a seasoned veteran. I see a lot of Richard Hill in him. I do not say this lightly; I consider Richard to be one of the finest exponents of rugby I have ever had the pleasure to play with. Hill took years to become known as The Silent Assassin. For the moment Robshaw must make do with The Quiet Mugger. Robshaw was turned over once on Saturday and when under pressure threw a risky pass to Tani Fuga as Quins looked to counter attack. Other than that he was almost faultless. Remember, his opposite man at Stade was Sergio Parisse, a contender for the IRB player of year award, and one of the few Italians who would make a world XV. Robshaw outshone him. First, he was in the right place at the right time.

Early on, as the onslaught looked like bursting the Quins' defences and the giant Mathieu Bastareau in the Stade centre carried Ugo Monye and Easter towards the try line, it was Robshaw who wrapped himself around the ball and under the mass of bodies to deny the Frenchman the try. From the ensuing scrum, Care disrupts at the base, Robshaw collects, makes five heavy yards up field to allow Evans to clear. Great decision. The rearguard action by the Quins in the second half was spectacular. Points came to Stade and they came early in the second half. It looked as if the floodgates were about to open. Then, with the score 12-10 to the Quins, Juan Martin Hernandez chips, the ball bounces, Rodrigo Roncero charges, Robshaw goes high in the tackle, brings him down and octopus-like causes a mass of bodies. He slows the ball down, wrapping himself all over it in a manner that is difficult to penalise. Clever beyond his years. But the game-changing moment, the moment you knew you were watching someone special, came deep in Quins territory. At a scrum, the ball squirted out sideways.

Care collected and an old fashioned hoof up field was followed by a cavalry charge. Now Quins have pace in their team, but Hernandez gathers and turns, who does he find himself confronted by? You guessed it, Robshaw. The tackle is made, he is back up on his feet in an instant, wins a penalty, and Quins suddenly have a five point margin. Right time, right place, right execution. Quins have a chance this afternoon to secure a place at the top of pool four. A double over Stade is a rare thing, and so is an uncapped Lion, Robshaw is in their and fighting for both. Six Harlequins named in England World Cup training squad | News | Harlequins Rugby Union Six Harlequins named in England World Cup training squad Wednesday, 20th May 2015 @ 12:00 England today announced their extended 50-man training squad for the Rugby World Cup 2015.

Harlequins Chris Robshaw, Joe Marler, Nick Easter, Danny Care, Marland Yarde and Mike Brown all feature in the 50-man group that will meet up at Pennyhill Park on Monday, June 22 to begin preparing for the tournament. This training squad is set to be reduced prior to the training camp in Denver and subsequently reduced again as the QBE Internationals against France and Ireland approach, with the final 31 players for the Rugby World Cup being announced by the August 31 deadline. England Head Coach Lancaster said: “We are excited to name this extended squad which allows us to look at a wide group of players who have been pushing hard for selection in training with us or playing well for their clubs this season. “There are a lot of experienced internationals within the squad with the likes of Chris Ashton and David Strettle, who are in great form, returning and it’s also good to have young players like Luke Cowan-Dickie, Elliot Daly, Maro Itoje and Henry Slade in there who have come through our player development pathway and had great seasons for their clubs.

“A number of this 50-man squad, such as Joe Launchbury, Elliot Daly, Danny Cipriani and Marland Yarde will be involved in the England XV side playing the Barbarians on May 31 following the Premiership semi-finals. There will also be opportunities for the likes of Dave Ewers and Christian Wade who just missed out on the initial selection but could come back in further down the line.” “Ben Foden, Joe Simpson and Tom Croft have not been included at this stage due to ongoing rehabilitation from injury but will hopefully come into consideration nearer the tournament. The England squad to play the Barbarians will be announced at 5pm on Sunday once the Premiership finalists are known as a number of players from the losing semi-finalists could be involved. England Rugby World Cup training squad: Chris Ashton (Saracens) Rugby union: Martin Johnson swells the Wasps swarm with recall of James Haskell | Sport | The Guardian Share on Messenger Close Not long ago it was Leicester who monopolised the England squad while others struggled to get a look-in.

That may still be true among the management - even the Australian-reared attack coach, Brian Smith, used to play for the Tigers -but the recall of James Haskell to the starting XV against South Africa this Saturday in the only change from the side beaten by Australia means London Wasps supply seven members of England's line-up with one more, Simon Shaw, on the bench. Given Martin Johnson's club loyalties, it says much for the all-for-one ethos of the manager's remodelled England. As Lawrence Dallaglio recalled the other day, it is only relatively recently that the two tribes were so instinctively separate that they sat at different dining tables during Test weeks. These days they spend more time together as a national squad and domestic allegiances are less ostentatious, though the huge swarm of Wasps is still significant. If Shaw gets on, the domestic title-holders will be one short of the England record set in August 1999 when nine Leicester players were capped against Canada at Twickenham.

With the world champions bearing down, it would be slightly more reassuring if Wasps were higher up this season's Premiership table than 11th but Haskell, in particular, cannot afford to be distracted against a high-quality Springbok back row. For two weeks he has sat frustrated on the bench, playing only a minor role as a replacement. "There has been disappointment and anger that I haven't played," admitted the 23-year-old, preferred to Tom Croft and keen to make up for lost time against his formidable opposite number Schalk Burger. "I've not been angry about people's selections, more the fact that I let myself down in my first few games for Wasps this season." "It will be exciting to play against Schalk because he's one of the guys I've tried to model my game on. He combines physicality and abrasiveness with a large amount of skill. That's the mould of a top international player and something to try and emulate.

If I didn't think I was up for the challenge, I'd be hiding in my room or jumping in my car and driving out of here." Johnson is clearly banking on Haskell to combat the confrontational threat heading England's way and to help reverse the outcome of the last meeting between the two countries 13 months ago. There are only four English starting survivors from the 2007 World Cup final in Paris and Johnson does not expect anything less than a bruising reunion. "It's not optional. We have to be out there hitting them as hard as they hit us, if not harder. If you're not up to it, they'll keep coming at you." The manager has also warned his squad to ignore South African protestations of weariness, preferring to focus on the need to concede fewer kickable penalties. "It's very difficult to win if you're giving them 21 points," he said, referring to Australia's seven penalties from eight attempts in their 28-14 victory last Saturday. "It still rankles. We need to cut out mistakes and put ourselves in a position in the last 20 minutes to win the game.

Guys have to be aware that, when you play South Africa, three points is a big deal. The World Cup final was a classic example." The only uncapped presence will be Leicester's muscular young No8 Jordan Crane - there are no Tigers in the team but four are lurking in reserve - who has sneaked in ahead of Bath's Michael Lipman. Any squad member who continues to stray "off the script", to use one of Johnson's recurring phrases, will have some explaining to do but there has been no loss of faith in Danny Cipriani's playmaking potential or Steve Borthwick's captaincy. While Borthwick was one of four England players not to train yesterday, along with Phil Vickery, Riki Flutey and Delon Armitage, he continues to enjoy Johnson's full support: "It's an easy finger to point. He's a fantastic leader." Borthwick, even so, could do with a commanding performance, particularly with his team hovering outside the top four of the world rankings on the eve of the 2011 World Cup draw next month. England will also be temporarily moving accommodation to Richmond this week, their Bagshot base having been hired by a banking corporation.

The bankers have since pulled out but England were unable to cancel their revised booking, hence the change of scenery. If it brings a change of luck, Johnson will not be remotely bothered. England (v South Africa, Saturday) D Armitage (London Irish); Sackey (Wasps), Noon (Newcastle), Flutey (Wasps), Monye (Harlequins); Cipriani (Wasps), Care (Harlequins); Sheridan (Sale), Mears (Bath), Vickery (Wasps), Borthwick (Saracens, capt), Palmer (Wasps), Haskell (Wasps), Rees (Wasps), Easter (Harlequins). Replacements Hartley (Northampton), Stevens (Bath), Shaw (Wasps), Croft, Crane, Ellis, Flood (all Leicester). Habana fit for England Bryan Habana, the misfiring Springboks wing, will line up against England on Saturday despite taking a blow to his thigh against Scotland. South Africa's backline coach, Dick Muir, said.

"I'm sure Bryan will start." Habana the current IRB player of the year, has scored only once in his last eight appearances for the world champions despite racking up 39 tries in 45 Tests. South Africa will not confirm their team until tomorrow as they give the scrum-half Fourie du Preez and the prop Brian Mujati time to recover from injuries. "We haven't got a final assessment on some of the players, so we're just going to wait and see," said Muir. The hooker Bismarck du Plessis and prop Gurthro Steenkamp are both out so the prop Jannie du Plessis has been called from South Africa, where Muir said he was, "on standby on the farm". South Africa will be allowed to continue to use the Springbok emblem for the foreseeable future despite some claims it is divisive.

Mikey Stafford Topics Munster fell three points short of a second shock victory over New Zealand, thirty years after their first Published: 18 Nov 2008 Warren Gatland, the Wales head coach, has made it clear that captain Ryan Jones is fighting for his place Published: 18 Nov 2008 Simon Taylor will face Canada after overcoming the calf injury that kept him out of Scotland's previous two games Published: 18 Nov 2008 Sébastien Chabal, a substitute in France's past two Tests, has been recalled to the starting line-up against Australia Published: 18 Nov 2008

Question: Rugby union - for which club team do England internationals Care, Easter and Robshaw play ?
Answer: HARLEQUINS