Building stage is over, it’s time for success – Robshaw

Twenty games remain until the 2015 World Cup on home soil and while uncapped duo Jack Nowell and Huddersfield-born Luther Burrell will be blooded this weekend, Robshaw thinks the time for rebuilding is over.

Two years ago in Stuart Lancaster’s first encounter with France as interim head coach, England left Paris with a 24-22 triumph, outscoring Les Bleus three tries to one in the process.

Little was expected from that game as England were starting out on the road to recovery from their 2011 World Cup fiasco, but Robshaw knows that Saturday’s result will carry far greater significance.

“There is more pressure on us this time and we also expect that from each other. Every time we meet up we want to be better,” said the England captain.

“The standards are a lot higher than they used to be, whether that’s being driven by the players or the coaches. We want to achieve.

“We have always spoken quite honestly and said ‘we are improving tournament by tournament’ and as individuals that is what we want to do.

“We are not in a building stage any more, we want to go on and be successful.

“To be successful you have to go to places like the Stade France – a tough environment with a hostile crowd – in a first-up encounter and hit the ground running. There can’t be any room for error.

“A win would be massive. It would get us off to the best possible start.

“Going into a hard and challenging environment and getting a result is always impressive.”

While France were once known for their dashing three-quarter play, it is now their muscular forwards who carry the standard into battle.

England know from which area the main threat will come, but Robshaw says they must also be ready for any surprises from a team still capable of producing the unexpected.

“France have a big, heavy pack and a very dangerous back line,” he added.

“It’s going to be a very physical encounter, there’s no hiding from that, and both sets of forwards will want to lay down a marker early on. We have an idea of what’s in store, but you never know quite what to expect with France and we have to be ready to adapt.”

Joe Launchbury, one of the rising stars of the Lancaster revolution, insists England are ready to continue dispelling the concerns raised by last year’s Six Nations mauling in Cardiff.

Lancaster’s grand slam-chasing side were overwhelmed 30-3 by Wales, but a successful autumn featuring wins against Australia and Argentina and a narrow loss to New Zealand proves to Launchbury that England possess a pack capable of mixing it with top teams.

“I’d say we’ve removed any lingering doubt over our physicality, but the question will continue to be asked,” said the Wasps lock.

“I’d like to think we’re well and truly past that and have grown as a team.

“We had one day in Cardiff when it didn’t go as we would have wanted, but since then the focus has been on us improving.

“Hopefully we showed where we are in the autumn and we’ll continue to do that in the Six Nations.”