Chisholm keen as Gustard and chasing England call
EXPLOSIVE Harlequins No.8 James Chisholm believes shouldering the captaincy in the absence of James Horwill and Chris Robshaw has boosted his England prospects.
Chisholm has proved an irrepressible force in a season of progress under new boss Paul Gustard, who gave him the armband when the experienced pair were injured.
“Most of my learning this season has been through the captaincy and I didn’t realise how much work there actually was,” Chisholm, 23, told The Rugby Paper.
“People think you just make a few decisions around kicking goals but you’re also trying to drive standards, deal with coaches and improve the whole club.
“It’s tough at times but I did enjoy it and although I don’t know what the older players think, I get the feeling they respected me and that’s very important.
“Sometimes it’s hard to have conversations with guys who are more experienced, and guys like Joe Marler are not afraid to tell you exactly how it is.
“But he’s the ultimate professional who works incredibly hard and does his job so it’s been great to lean on him, along with Danny Care and Chris Robshaw.”
Chisholm has flourished under the tutelage of Gustard – a former back rower himself – to the point where he is now being seen as a viable England option.
He explained: “Paul knew an incredible amount about me and Harlequins from day one. He had obviously watched a lot of rugby in his previous job with England, but once he got the Harlequins job, he watched all our games again last summer.
“When he was in South Africa with England, he even managed to keep an eye on our training and lads would get calls from him at 8am to chat about how they could get better and what they needed to do, which I found incredibly exciting.
“He wasn’t even here but was having an impact and he’s been pushing me in a different way.”
Chisholm hopes to be pushed all the way into the Test reckoning, adding: “Look, Billy Vunipola’s the best in the world and it’s really nice to see Mark Wilson doing well, but I just want to get better, enjoy my rugby, win stuff and play for England.
“My dream hasn’t changed and if it happens this year, great. If it doesn’t happen, I’m still going to work hard towards that ultimate goal.
“Either way, something special is happening at Harlequins right now and this squad’s ready to achieve things.”