Robshaw gets England captaincy but no assurance over World Cup

Stuart Lancaster reappointed Chris Robshaw as England captain last night but immediately opened the door for others in the squad to raise their hand and lead the host nation into the 2015 World Cup.

Back-row forward Robshaw endured a frustrating summer on the sidelines after being overlooked for British and Irish Lions selection and then being rested for England’s tour to Argentina.

But his stellar form in a struggling Harlequins outfit has seen him regain the captaincy from Northampton flanker Tom Wood.

The reinstatement of Robshaw yesterday at the national team’s training camp here in Leeds is Lancaster’s first big decision of the autumn campaign which begins on Saturday week against Australia at Twickenham.

Argentina and world champions New Zealand visit south west London on the following two Saturdays in what could be a crucial series at the mid-point of the World Cup cycle.

In reinstating Robshaw, Lancaster has shown faith in the man who has led England for 16 of the 19 internationals the former Leeds Carnegie player and coach has overseen.

But he gave Robshaw, 27, no assurances that he would be captain into the World Cup on home soil, or beyond the next three games for that matter.

“I look at the Richie McCaw, Kieran Read situation with the All Blacks; when Richie is out Kieran steps in, and we’ll have similar and we want others to have experience of captaining England,” said Lancaster.

“I’ve made no assurances beyond the QBE Internationals because I want other players to have experience of captaining England.”

Wood led the Red Rose in Robshaw’s absence as England defeated Argentina in two Tests in June. Dylan Hartley, who hobbled off the training field at West Park Leeds in a protective boot yesterday after twisting his ankle at the weekend, has also captained England under Lancaster’s stewardship.

And a Yorkshireman in Rob Webber could also return to the equation after taking the armband for the non-cap Test against the Barbarians at the end of May. The Pocklington-born Bath hooker has been injured and only returns for his club side this weekend, so Lancaster’s warning yesterday will give him heart for the future.

Lancaster also mentioned Stockton-born Geoff Parling in the leadership discussion as he opened the door for those with captaincy potential to stand up and be counted.

“Captaining England is a bigger role to play than just the on-field decision making, and I think Chris’s experience of doing it over the last 12 months is going to help him,” said Lancaster.

“It’s a big ask of Tom Wood after only two Tests in Argentina and not even captaining his club side. To get the feel for a game, lead your team and think about your own game, is a different skill.

“Geoff Parling took a leadership role with the Lions, Tom Wood captained England, Toby Flood is captaining his club, so we’ve got players in there who have a range of experiences, and that’s what you need in the team because at the end of the day the team is driven by the players on the field and they’ve all got decisions to make.”

Despite keeping the captaincy issue open and once again stressing how he relies more on a leadership group than just one steady hand on the tiller, Lancaster did praise Robshaw for his resilience and his character in bouncing back after the disappointments of the summer.

“I 100 per cent think it was the right thing to do,” said Lancaster, when asked if the decision to rest Robshaw in the summer was the right one.

“The pressures and demands of captaining a club side and your country as well is big, and whilst he was willing to go on tour, I felt that mentally and physically a break was good for him.

“Chris has come back refreshed both physically and mentally to take on the role again.

“Missing out on the Lions hurt him but equally it happened at a time when he had an opportunity to get away from rugby.

“To be able to get abroad and get some sun on his back, to put things in perspective and reflect on what he’s done over the last 12 months, I think quite rightly he came back having put it to bed and moved on.

“He’s had to fight to get in the England side and he knows nothing can be taken for granted.

“Experience matures captains and the experience he has gained through the Six Nations, last season and this season, has shown.

“He’s had some feedback, he’s worked on his game during the summer and he’s played well at the start of this season.

“Whilst other players have pushed him I still feel he’s the right player to lead England.”

England’s preparations for the autumn series continue today and tomorrow in Leeds.

Chris Ashton and Billy Twelvetrees will be working with a group of mixed age group players at Wetherby RUFC this afternoon as the England Connected programme, developed by Lancaster when he became head coach, strengthens.

The squad’s week in West Yorkshire was again highlighted by visits from English sporting legends to help inspire the players.

Where in the past it was footballer Gary Neville and Leeds Rhinos’ stalwart Jamie Peacock, this week the guests at a dinner were all northern-based former England union legends; Bill Beaumont, Mike Harrison, Fran Cotton and Roger Uttley.

“I went for a northern selection because it’s too far to come up,” laughed Lancaster.