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Robshaw chosen to captain England after just one cap
Stuart Lancaster continued to buck familiar trends yesterday when he named Chris Robshaw as England captain for the first two games of the Six Nations.
England’s interim head coach has shown he has no intention of being a slave to conventional wisdom during his time in charge by making 13 changes to the squad that failed in the World Cup and handing opportunities to nine uncapped players. He also broke from tradition when he took England’s pre-tournament training camp away from Portugal and staged it in Yorkshire.
Now, with the opening game against Scotland just four days away, Lancaster has handed the captaincy to Robshaw, a player who has previously earned only one cap for his country.
The 25-year-old Harlequins captain will lead England at Murrayfield and again seven days later at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, after which Tom Wood is expected to return from a toe injury and will take the armband.
Lancaster said: “We have a strong leadership group and I have been very impressed with the way they have all stepped up so far.
“Chris is a key member of that group and has shown with Harlequins and when I have worked with him in the Saxons that he can lead a team tactically and passionately.
“I am delighted that he has got this chance at the highest level and I know it will be a very proud moment for him, his club, family and friends when he leads England out at Murrayfield on Saturday.”
Robshaw won his sole cap in England’s 2009 defeat to Argentina, following a season in which he was named Guinness Premiership Player of the Year. He also played in a non-cap loss against the Barbarians two weeks earlier.
Robshaw, who is likely to start at No 7 in front of former Leeds player Calum Clark, said: “It’s a huge honour and a very proud day – hopefully one that will live in my memory for a long time to come.
“Thanks to everyone who has helped me, especially Quins.
“There’s a lot of other leaders in the group and they have been great since we met up. It’s not about myself because there are six or seven guys around me who all have massive roles to play, whether that’s bossing scrums, lineouts, defence.
“Stuart, Graham (Rowntree, scrum coach) and Andy (Farrell, backs coach) have given us the game plan and it’s up to us to get it across to the other players to drive the standards and the squad forward in the right way.”
Delon Armitage has been suspended from the England Saxons elite player squad after being arrested on suspicion of assault.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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