Robshaw regains England armband
CHRIS Robshaw will captain England for the first time since the 2015 World Cup in Sunday’s non-cap international against the Barbarians.
The Harlequins flanker, pictured, has been named co-captain along with Leicesterbound fly-half George Ford, as boss Eddie Jones named eight uncapped players in the starting line-up.
Robshaw was stood down from the captaincy after England’s disastrous World Cup 2015 campaign in one of Jones’ first moves as the new head coach, but the 30-year-old has since steadily increased his standing in the ranks.
Robshaw’s very Test future had been plunged into doubt after the dismal World Cup campaign, where England became the worst-performing hosts in tournament history.
His situation became more clouded after the departure of Stuart Lancaster and his coaching team, when Jones took the helm and swiftly appointed hooker Dylan Hartley as his captain.
But Jones took Robshaw out for coffee, to explain that decision - and tell the hardgrafting back-rower to fight to secure his place in the England set-up.
England then set about building a record 18-Test winning streak, with Robshaw proving pivotal to a new-look back-row and having shifted to blindside flanker.
Jones was left to brand Robshaw his “glue player” in the all-conquering England line-up, so revitalised had the Harlequins man become.
And now Jones’ decision to hand Robshaw the armband for the Barbarians clash underscores once again his importance to England, both on and off the field.
Bath-bound flanker Sam Underhill will make his England bow among a youthful line-up, with Saracens’ Nick Isiekwe and Charlie Ewels paired at lock. Leicester prop Ellis Genge will pack down with Worcester’s Jack Singleton and Harlequins man Will Collier. TOMORROW sees Wasps face Exeter Chiefs in the Aviva Premiership final, seeking their first title since 2008.
The black-and-golds have only limited history against Rob Baxter’s side, as the Chiefs have only been in the top-flight since 2010.
However, it is a match which has produced more than its share of thrilling clashes...
Wasps welcomed Chiefs to the Ricoh Arena for the first game of the current season looking to bounce back from their defeat at the hands of the Chiefs in the previous campaign’s play-offs.
Exeter had been victorious in the past three Premiership encounters between the two. This was the first-time fly-half and summer signing Danny Cipriani had been seen in a Wasps’ shirt since 2010, and a first outing for the CiprianiGopperth-Daly midfield trio which has since served Wasps so well.
Wasps started their season on a high, fighting back from 12 points down to claim a useful win.
Henry Slade’s kicking plus tries from Thomas Waldrom and Will Chudley, either side of a sublime Jimmy Gopperth in-out finish, took Exeter into a 20-8 lead.
But the hosts responded through Dan Robson and Tommy Taylor, plus two Gopperth conversions and a nerveless late penalty which clinched victory.
Wasps’ league debutant Tommy Taylor said: “Obviously being the first game of the season, you have planned towards this since June, so it’s great to win and four points in this league is massive.
“Exeter came here and had a game plan, the lads played them four times last year so they are very familiar opponents.”
Wasps travelled to Sandy Park for their first Premiership semi-final since 2008, looking for their first win there.
Dai Young’s side had finished just two points behind their opponents in the regular season, but lost both league encounters with them.
Exeter Chiefs reached the Premiership final for the first time in their history courtesy of two penalty tries awarded by referee Greg Garner.
The lead change hands four times in the first period, as Carlo Festuccia’s close- range score for Wasps was cancelled out by Ian Whitten’s try.
Dan Robson restored Wasps’ scoreboard superiority, but a penalty try gave Exeter a 20-14 half-time advantage. Dave Ewers then scored for the Chiefs soon after the restart before a late penalty try sent them to Twickenham.
Wasps’ Dai Young said: “We knew they are a good team and they proved it today by being a bit more clinical than us when they had chances.
“The conditions were always going to make it slightly difficult for both teams to play the rugby they wanted to play, but we have no complaints overall.”
A game that will be forever remembered by those with black-and-gold blood.
One of the biggest games at the Ricoh saw Chiefs get sent to Coventry for the Champions Cup quarter-finals.
Jimmy Gopperth kicked a nerveless last-minute winner to send Wasps into the Champions Cup semi-finals.
The visitors led 14-6 at halftime after two tries from Thomas Waldrom wiped out Gopperth’s two kicks. Blackand-gold full-back Charles Piutau and Chiefs’ Harry Wil- liams then traded tries, with Gareth Steenson kicking Exeter 24-11 ahead.
Gopperth’s conversion of Frank Halai’s score gave Wasps hope, but Exeter looked set to hang on until the Kiwi ace converted Piutau’s last-second try.
Match-winner Gopperth said: “With this one being right on the buzzer, it was one I’ll always remember.
“Some of the boys told me they couldn’t watch, but as soon as it hit my foot I knew it was going straight.
“You can’t shy away from them, you’ve got to get on the horse and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.”
Wasps hosted Exeter at the Ricoh for the first time chasing a first top-six finish in five years.
Chiefs meanwhile were looking to make the play-offs and were just one place ahead of their hosts going into the final three matches of the season.
A Christian Wade score within 70 seconds plus a penalty try and three Andy Goode penalties set Wasps on their way to a 26-16 half-time lead.
Scrum-half Joe Simpson then sealed the win with a magnificent solo try, as Goode took his Ricoh Arena points haul past the century mark with another penalty and a conversion.
Director of Rugby Dai Young said: “We have got one foot in the top six, but there are no easy games in the Premiership. It was a typical Wasps performance, brilliant on occasions, but we caused ourselves no end of problems.”
Adams Park was the scene for the first ever Premiership meeting between the sides in December 2010 following the Chiefs promotion from the Championship.
Freezing fog greeted the teams as they made their way onto the pitch with Wasps searching for the win that would take them to fifth.
Dave Walder and Ryan Davis traded penalties to leave Wasps a 9-6 lead, before tries either side of half-time from Ben Broster and David Lemi extended Wasps’ advantage.
Although two Davis penalties lifted the Chiefs, a late kick from Walder secured victory for the hosts.
Wasps boss Tony Hanks said: “For the second week in a row it was a splendid defensive effort – we have got back to the standards that we expect.