Daily Mail

RAMPAGING ROBSHAW’S AT PEAK OF HIS POWERS

England No 7 is renaissanc­e man

- by CHRIS FOY Rugby Correspond­ent @FoyChris

C HRIS ROBSHAW has stayed on the rollercoas­ter and is enjoying the ride, more than ever. He clung on during the big dip two years ago and today he will savour the view from the top again.

It is a personal triumph of endurance and dedication. The Harlequins flanker will lead England into their final autumn fixture, against Samoa at Twickenham, as co- captain alongside George Ford.

He will also start in the No 7 shirt. Both of those roles would have been considered beyond his grasp after the national team’s last World Cup campaign.

Robshaw was the skipper when Stuart Lancaster’s Red Rose side slumped to a pool-stage exit. He was damned by primary associatio­n with the calamitous demise. Then Eddie Jones took over as head coach, having declared in this newspaper that Robshaw was not a Test-class openside. It didn’t look good for the 31-yearold but he ignored the writing on the wall.

His internatio­nal salvation has come at blindside but he will fill a void on the other flank today, as a player operating at the peak of his powers, with a sense of fulfilment.

Robshaw strives to play down his pride and satisfacti­on but he acknowledg­es that the tough times have helped him find contentmen­t, and the sort of perspectiv­e that allows him to offer advice to the rookies around him.

‘As you get a bit older you probably get a bit more relaxed, you don’t take things to heart as much and you have that experience,’ he said. ‘You have had the pain, the good times, the bad times, and you can see when there’s a guy having a bit of a tough situation, or about to get his first cap or even his 50th cap. You’ve been through that rollercoas­ter already, so you can speak to them.

‘People often think about these Churchill speeches, but a lot of the time it’s just being there for people — showing that you care. We all go through those tough times, whether it’s selection or media or not playing well. It’s about trying not to get too down in the bad times and trying not to get too high in the good times.’

Last weekend’s victory overr the Wallabies servedd as further proof thathat Robshaw is a valued stalwartt of the pack and a player in an extended purple patch. Defence coach Paul Gustard yesterday acclaimed hiss recent work, saying: ywas ‘ Chris was outstandin­g againstgai­nst Australia and he has been for the last year and a half.’

As well as being co-captain for the day, the home No 7 will set the tone with his work-rate. It will be there for all to see at Twickenham, but what is less widely apparent is his commitment behind the scenes, day after day.

Dylan Hartley, the regular national captain under Jones — who will take charge again whenever he comes off the bench — expressed his admiration for Robshaw, saying: ‘It is testament to the strength of his character that he’s still here.

‘He hasn’t changed, he still works unbelievab­ly hard. He’s always diligent. You walk past the team room, past the snooker table and PlayStatio­n and there’s a computer room and a food room. You see a lot of lads in the common room and Robbo will be in front of the computer, studying breakdowns and looking at opposition, reviewing training.’ Jones will expect his younger forwards to take their cue from the leader up front. Sam Simmonds has a chance to force his way into the coaches’ backrow plans for the World Cup, while Ellis Genge and Charlie Ewels can help the hosts establish the physical dominance they crave, by making their marks at loosehead prop and lock respective­ly.

Samoa will hurl themselves into every collision. Fly-half Ford knows exactly what is coming. ‘They energise themselves by making big hits,’ he said. ‘ Our skills have to be on the money because if not they’ll come for you — flying off the line and wanting to hurt you. ‘I made mmy first start for Samoa in one autumn and gotg “done” a couple plecouple of times. I’ve nenever been in a car ccrash but I can iimagine it’s as cclose to one as yyou can come.

‘You don’t think ttoo much about tthe danger of it bbut you understand stundersta­nd there are somsome big guys coming ingcoming off the line. But we can’tca sit back and be tentative.tenta We’ve got to dictatedic­tate. WWe’ve got to be brave.’

The result is beyond any doubt. England will win, but given the disparity in resources between the countries — the wealthy English and impoverish­ed islanders — it would represent a sporting miracle if Samoa were to finish within 25 points of their opponents. However, there is no expectatio­n in the home camp of a run-away victory.

‘We saw last week Ireland-Fiji finished 23-20 and Wales versus Georgia was 14-6,’ said Jones. ‘These sides are capable on their day and this will be Samoa’s big game. I worked as a technical advisor for them in 2006 and I know that when they get their emotional level right, they’re a bloody hard side to bat. They’re the most physical and athletic players in the world.’

That is certainly true but England are not short of physicalit­y and athleticis­m themselves. The autumn clean- sweep should be completed with plenty of room to spare. Jones will want a few more World Cup contenders to emerge, while Robshaw keeps riding on.

 ?? REX FEATURES ?? Target man: Robshaw at full stretch in line-out practice
REX FEATURES Target man: Robshaw at full stretch in line-out practice
 ?? GETTY IMAGES ?? On alert: coach Borthwick’s close eye on Hartley (right)
GETTY IMAGES On alert: coach Borthwick’s close eye on Hartley (right)
 ??  ?? Insider: Jones has worked with Samoa
Insider: Jones has worked with Samoa
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