Robson returns to stake England claim
DEFIANT Dan Robson is confident his lack of Test experience will not hinder his chances of achieving his World Cup dream.
No.9 Robson, 26, who toured South Africa with England last summer, appeared nailed on to win his first cap during the Autumn Tests until his hopes were scuppered by ankle ligament damage and a fractured fibula suffered on Wasps duty in October.
In his absence, veteran Saracens scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth took his Test cap tally to 33, while the continued presence of Ben Youngs (80 caps) and Danny Care (84) means that between them the trio boast 197 appearances to Robson’s nil.
Daunted? Not a bit of it. Robson, who attended last week’s preliminary Six Nations squad gathering in Liverpool, told The Rugby
Paper: “Wiggy’s world-class and has been for a long time. He’s obviously got extra experience but I hope that doesn’t count against me.
“It was frustrating to get injured in October, to say the least, but Eddie Jones and the England coaches have kept in touch. I’ve been able to put my hand up to be involved again now and it’s pleasing not to have been forgotten about.”
Robson added: “There was no real training in Liverpool, just a lot of screening and checking on injuries. But it gives you a lot of confidence just being involved and I felt it was really valuable, especially with the timing of me coming back.
“We had individual meetings and Eddie just wants me to play as much rugby as I can and get back to the form I was in before my injury. He wants me to be a real threat so I’ve been trying to put in some big, effective performances.”
Robson’s return coincided with an upturn for Wasps, who followed a battling 20-13 defeat against Harlequins over Christmas with last week’s 27-16 victory over Northampton.
“It felt like an age since I got injured and while it was a frustrating period, it’s even trickier when you see your side losing,” Robson said. “It’s been great to have some input over the last couple of weeks and hopefully that will give us confidence.”
Robson’s inability to line-up alongside new halfback partner Lima Sopoaga was a contributory factor in Wasps plunging towards the drop zone.
However, with the pair back in harness against Northampton, Robson believes they will hit it off and banish talk of the departed Danny Cipriani.
Kiwi Sopoaga has been slow to catch fire, but Robson said: “He’s a great lad and a total professional who wants to improve and learn – we’ve been working incredibly hard behind the scenes on what we can do well together for this team.
“Cips is a bit more structured and likes the game to be at his pace, whereas Lima likes it quite broken up so he can show his attacking instincts and be a bit more off the cuff.
“It’s been tough for both of us with him being new and me being out injured, so it was nice to get 80 minutes together last weekend and it was probably our best performance.”
Wasps have been under siege with talk of players leaving, including star names Elliot Daly and Nathan Hughes. But Robson added: “If players are leaving, they’re still with us until the end of the season and I’m sure they’ll give their all for the club.”