DESIRE AND HIGHER
Robshaw still hungry for shot at World Cup glory after shambles in 2017
CHRIS ROBSHAW insists he will not rest until he rights the wrongs of the last Rugby World Cup.
The Harlequins star was captain of an England team expected to make the final but which failed even to reach the knockout rounds.
He lost the armband and few thought his Test career would survive the fallout. But two years on he remains a key player for Eddie Jones.
“I’m highly ambitious to go to the next World Cup and give that a go,” said the flanker.
“Obviously with how that finished I want another crack at it.
“I’m 31 but still very hungry. I want to win stuff, I want to achieve a lot more. The desire burns strongly.
“When you look back you look at the finals, playing in those big games, winning stuff. You don’t often get the opportunity to play in front of 80,000 people and represent your country. I’ll continue chasing that.”
Jones has a wealth of young back row talent from which to choose. Tom Curry, 19, and Sam Underhill, 21, were capped this year. Maro Itoje is still only 22.
“There’s real competition for places and no player can feel they can just turn up and go through the motions,” said head coach Jones (below). “You know, bowl your 10 overs for 30 runs and be happy.
“You can’t do that any more for England, you’ve got to compete and be at your best. The only way we’re going to be the best team in the world is if we’ve got that – and that’s what we’re moving towards.” Robshaw, whose club contract runs through to 2020, has never been one for going through the motions. “He is the ultimate professional,” Quins boss John Kingston testified. “He looks after himself so well, he does everything right 24/7. With Chris there is no drop-off seasonon-season. None at all. “I think back to that hugely disappointing time with the England World Cup. “Chris was hurting but he came straight back in and his performance levels were unaffected. That sums him up really.”