Robshaw axed as Kiwi Shields handed first England start
BRAD SHIELDS reflected on a “whirlwind” fortnight which has ended with his selection for England’s second Test against South Africa at the expense of Chris Robshaw.
For the first time in an international career spanning 65 caps, Robshaw has been dropped due to an end-of-season collapse in form that Eddie Jones insists defies explanation.
Instead, Shields will start at blindside flanker to complete a remarkable two weeks which began with him captaining the Hurricanes against the Highlanders in Dunedin before flying 7,655 miles to join up with Jones’s squad in Durban for the first time.
The 27-year-old former New Zealand Under-20s captain, who qualifies for England through his parents, appeared as a firsthalf replacement for the series opener in Johannesburg and his accelerated rise through the Red Rose ranks continues at Free State Stadium on Saturday.
“It’s been bit of a whirlwind for me. A week ago I was playing for the Hurricanes and now to be here in sunny Durban is a bit of a change. It’s been bloody awesome,” Shields said.
“I didn’t really have too many expectations coming here. All I wanted to do was show up, put my best foot forward, push my case and train well.
“Whatever happened from then was out of my control, it was down to the coaches, so my goal was to do the best I could and fit into the group as quickly as I could. There’s so much history in this jersey. I’m just really lucky to pull it on once. To pull it on again on Saturday is a pretty massive achievement for me and my family. The first cap is something that I’ll always cherish.”
Shields’s elevation into the starting XV on the grounds of his work-rate and line-out expertise has seen Robshaw jettisoned from the matchday 23 altogether.
The former England captain has been an ever-present under Jones and was similarly valued by the Australian’s predecessor Stuart Lancaster, but now has an uncertain international future.
“Chris was very disappointed but was not overly surprised. He’s a very hard taskmaster himself and realises that he hasn’t been in great form,” Jones said.
“We’re trying to find out why but at the moment we can’t. Hopefully we’ll get him right for the third Test.
“Most definitely he’ll come back from this. The door hasn’t been closed. Players go through ups and owns, just like teams go through ups and downs.”
An exciting pick on the bench for England’s attempt to rescue the series after losing the Ellis Park opener 42-39 is Danny Cipriani, who was overlooked for the first match.