Chris Robshaw EXCLUSIVE
I still think I can make Lions tour England’s a scar I’ll always wear
IF Chris Robshaw is feeling a looming sense of déjà vu, he is hiding it well. As England captain four years ago, he missed out on the tour to Australia with Warren Gatland’s British & Irish Lions after his side’s spectacular 30- 3 collapse in Cardiff shifted the selector’s minds in favour of Welsh blood.
Robshaw was overlooked and the pain stayed with him.
Four years later and the gods appear to be conspiring against him once more. A shoulder i njury sustained against Worcester on New Year’s Day robbed him of his chance to shine in the Six Nations and reduced him to hosting corporate hospitality at Twickenham during England’s triumphant campaign.
Now he has just three Aviva Premiership games for Harlequins to remind Gatland of his credentials.
After missing out on the Lions and 16 months after losing the Engg land captaincy following a humiliating home World Cup campaign, t he 30- year- ol d flanker who England coach Eddie Jones said last year was the ‘ first name on my teamsheet’ would be forgiven for feeling downbeat.
Not a bit of it. While he accepts his chance of being named in Gatland’s 38-man squad on Aprill 19 were not helped by his absencee from England’s Six Nations triumph, Robshaw is determined to resurrect his Lions dream.
‘I wouldn’t say I enjoyed doingg the hospitality stuff but I tried to make a good situation out of a badad one,’ he said, looking forward to his return to club action for Harleequins against Newcastle yestererday.
‘ It was a tough gig, especially when you want to be out there playing. You speak to the guys afterwards having a great time and that is part of it.
‘There’s never a good time to be injured. With any sport injuries happen. There’s no point worrying about it. There are good days and bad days and you do get frustrated but you have to stay positive.
‘You can sit and mope around or get back out there and try to do your rehab as well as possible and try to get out there a little bit earlier than you had hoped and try to be positive.
‘ Of course I hope to make the Lions like everyone else. I’ve got to go about my business as well as I can, have a bit of luck and hope the coaches pick me. But it’s out of
your control control. I just have to see what happens. It’s the same for all the guys. It’s a massive thing to be part of that. Speak to [Quins team-mate] Jamie Roberts or Adam Jones and guys who have done it and they speak about how special it is. Of course you want to be part of it but you’ve got to play well here for your club and see what happens.’
Robshaw is relaxed, refreshed and looking as fit as a fiddle when we speak at Harlequins’ Guildford training ground.
‘ I haven’t been playing for 12 weeks so I haven’t been bashed around too much,’ he said. ‘ I’ve done everything in terms of rehab and it’s about playing and trying to finish the season well.’
Like every top professional, Robshaw is loath to delve too far into the past as he fixes his focus on the next training session; the next game; the next win.
But he would not be human if he did not still carry scars from England’s uniquely poor performance during the World Cup and the fallout which cost him the captaincy after four years in charge, while head coach Stuart Lancaster and his coaching team were sacked.
It led to a bleak period of reflection for Robshaw, who according to Quins director of rugby John Kingston took the premature exit ‘far too personally’. He was soon being reassured of his value by Jones, who had publicly questioned his credentials during the World Cup, and went on to be England’s outstanding performer during their unbeaten 2016.
‘It was a tough time for me and my family,’ said Robshaw. ‘Initially the difficult thing was not really knowing where I stood with Eddie. He came in and we had a good chat and he told me what he needed me to do to be in his side and if I could do it I’d be in his side. When Eddie came in I didn’t know whether I’d ever play again. Who knew? But Eddie is a very honest guy and he lets you know where you stand. As soon as we had that chat I had a bit more confidence.
‘Just before we played Scotland last year he said, “You’ve done enough, we’re pleased with you and we’re giving you the opportunity”. Luckily I managed to take that and stay in there. I’ve really enjoyed the set-up and working with Dylan Hartley and the other boys has been tremendous.’
Unburdened by the captaincy, Robshaw was outstanding wearing England’s No 6 shirt, achieving a remarkable level of consistency which earned Jones’s respect and reminded the public of his ability, work-rate and dedication.
Did losing the captaincy remove a weight from his shoulders and free up his performances?
‘I think so,’ he said. ‘I loved captaining England and I wa s extremely proud of all the guys and what we did. Of course I wasn’t proud of how it finished with the World Cup. It was a tough situation and it will stay with me.
‘It’s a scar I will wear and we are part of that as a squad. Unfortunately we blinked at the wrong time during the World Cup.
‘But we’ll move forward and it’s great to see all the coaches doing well in different set-ups now. All
I loved being captain... but the World Cup was a really tough time — and it will stay with me
the players as well have gone back to their game and got better.
‘I was very pleased with how I went last season. The side has been through a lot of experiences and whenever you’re in a side which is going well and winning you want to play your part. If it’s taking a lineout here or there or helping the lineout guys, to hitting that ruck to doing that little carry. Whatever it is to help the team function.
‘As a person and a player I am very ambitious and I want to achieve things. But you want to be able to look your team-mates in the eye every game and say “I performed, I’ve done well”.
‘You’d much rather play with guys who are going to hit a seven or eight out of 10 every week than guys who are going to hit a nine or 10 one week and then a two the next week. You want that consistency from your team-mates.’
Hardened by criticism, Robshaw remains focused on the future. At 30 years old and with 55 caps, he still has much to offer to his club, country and possibly the Lions. As Kingston says: ‘Just because he’s been out for two months I’m not so sure that should hold against him in terms of the Lions. He’s an integral part of that England team. He’ll be fresh now, having had that break in the season.
‘Chris was amazing last year following the World Cup disappointment. He took it personally in terms of the failure of England.
‘Warren Gatland’s going to want competitors and winners down in New Zealand. Chris Robshaw falls into that category full scale.’
Robshaw is determined to play in the 2019 World Cup in Japan, in part to put right the wrongs of 2015. In the short term, he is focused on helping Harlequins finish in the top four. But whatever he does, Robshaw will do in an unstintingly selfless manner.
His future is bright. Robshaw wears his scars well.