England have announced that they will once again be captained by Harlequins back-row forward Chris Robshaw in their November International Series.
The Quins skipper has led his country in all but one of eight Tests under coach Stuart Lancaster and the head coach revealed his appointment for the Test games against Fiji, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand at Twickenham Stadium.
"Chris has been outstanding on and off the field and we are delighted that he will captain the team for what will be an immense challenge in the QBE Internationals," said Lancaster.
"We have a strong leadership group in this squad and I know that Chris will be well supported by them in the weeks ahead.
"It was important to wait until after last weekend's Premiership matches to check on everyone's form and fitness and not interrupt the players preparations. I have had the chance now to have a 1:1 catch-up with each player and we are really pleased to announce Chris as captain."
Meanwhile, England duo Dylan Hartley and Courtney Lawes have been ruled out of the opening November international against Fiji after the pair suffered knee injuries in the Saints' defeat to Saracens. They have returned to their club to undergo further treatment.
Anthony Allen, Mike Brown, Phil Dowson, Ben Morgan, James Haskell, Jordan Turner-Hall and Ben Youngs have also been released for Aviva Premiership duty this weekend.
Worcester prop Matt Mullan and Harlequins lock George Robson, who were initially called up as injury cover for Joe Marler and Lawes, will train with England on Wednesday before returning to their clubs. Those players are still in contention to face Fiji on November 10.
"Some return for further treatment from their club and others to get some game time to put a marker down for selection for when we meet again on Sunday after the weekend's games," Lancaster said.
"We will not finalise selection for the Fiji game until after training next Tuesday and so for those going back and playing this is a real opportunity to stake a claim with a really big performance."
Comments
rugby_rockstar says...
Tricky. Lancaster picked Robshaw for last year's 6 nations because Chris is a honest hard working backrower who wasn't tarred with any of the rugby world cup shinanagins in NZ. Having said that, there were players injured (tom wood) who also had very good credentials, but weren't available.
Lets face it, england were in tatters last February and Stuart had to cobble together a team. Those players paid him back in spades, but would they have got their shot if others were available? Stuart mustn't be too loyal to the guys who basically won him the england job. He has to be harsh and hurt player's feelings to ensure we have the best players on the pitch. Players like Ernst Jubert and Steffan Armitage seem to have been left out so that Ben Morgan and Chris Robshaw don't feel like they've been betrayed by the guy they helped become england coach. Owen Farrel hasn;t shown any form to warrent additional england caps, so why is he there?
Stuart, its not about being a nice guy. Its about picking a side that'll give the best account of themselves in 2013 and that means winning and building confidence right now.
For what its worth though I'll be cheering England on at Twienham on saturday and if you and chris win against the big guys later in the month then I'll still be happy as hell and merrily admitting I'm got it wrong on this website. :) Good Luck England.
Posted 17:03 05th November 2012
JamieTheProp says...
I think Lancaster has been conservative - the bloke wanted the job so needed to win a few! And SA is not a tour on which you make big changes to playing styles! But hopefully he'll start to build an attacking style and flair as we move through the tests to come this season.
We need a few wins for the WC rankings and then I think we need to be challenging for the 6 Nations playing effective, flowing rugby based on scoring tries - we can only hope!
Posted 08:42 03rd November 2012
APV1 says...
@ heart_of_oak - it was almost a sort of actual question, although I'm in agreement with you.
I also agree that Lawes is a top class 2R, although his injury-count is starting to make me nervous. The 2R is an attritional position - more than most - and he's starting to look fragile. Perhaps I'm being over critical.
Attwood is another of the "Overlooked". He had some brain farts with Glaws but is much improved now. He's as clean a player as the next 2R player is (whatever that means... ;-) ) and is solid in the scrum and good around the park. No idea why he's not on SL's radar.
I'd add to the Overlooked list Twelvetrees and Burns and have them at 10 and 12 as well. Certainly 12Trees offers us the best combo of speed, defence, attack and kicking that we have. I think he has an edge on Farrell and Barritt. He's also played inside Tuilagi, so that should work.
Posted 14:43 02nd November 2012
heart_of_oak says...
APV1 - there's no way anyone would take any notice of a request from Lancaster to play a player in a position the club didn't normally play him in. This was another of your 'tongue in cheek' remarks, though, wasn't it ?
Jamietheprop - I'm one of those who really rate Lawes highly. Sorry, but there it is. I would even go so far as to say I think he's the best lock in the northern hemisphere. But he has occasionally done daft things and he does seem to be getting injured alot. I don't think he's as much a penalty magnet as say Matt Stevens was. So I guess I agree with your comments about 50%. If we don't have Lawes available for the winter tests, then Parling is for me, a reasonable 'work horse' as is Botha, Palmer perhaps a bit less so. I'd prefer to see Attwood in the mix for a 2nd row position but he's either out of favour or not playing well enough. I don't follow Bath enough to know the score.
Totally agree with you on Care. A Leeds lad I believe, like thee and me. He's on top form right now.
Cipriani isn't guaranteed a starting position at Sale who are not exactly setting the league alight right now. So SL is unlikely to consider him. Burns and Twelvetrees are the ones I'd like to have seen in the mix for FH and IC. I think Twelvetrees is a better all round player and more creative than Barritt.
Lancaster seems to be a bit conservative for my liking but it's early days.
Posted 12:48 02nd November 2012
JamieTheProp says...
Is it just me that doesn't understand why people hold Lawes in such high esteem? He is always injured, is a penalty magnet and ALWAYS does something silly in a game that could easily get him sent off (especially for England).
He is a good player and I understand he is good at the breakdown and around the pitch. But he is also a liability.
Also anyone calling for Youngs to play hasn't been watching Care. In the Heineken Cup he has been superb and is exactly what England need - a sniping, horrible, arrogant little SH. Especially as our FH options are less than exciting. The argument that Youngs plays with Flood week in, week out doesn't hold water - Leicester are losing and both players haven't been performing. Youngs has also developed a habit of stepping a few times before passing from the base of a ruck - which has cost Leicester and will cost England.
And if anyone even mentions that joker Cipriani I think I might cry.
Let Lancaster carry on building his team - I know he has left some exciting, young players out (Burns and Wade). He has tried out a good number of players and he now needs to build consistency and encourage confidence. These other players are young and can be tweaked into the team when they are ready. No more wholesale changes - just tweaks to the existing core, building experience.
Good times.
Posted 12:32 01st November 2012
APV1 says...
@ ArmchairGeneral - I wonder whether SL is able to "request" that a player plays in a certain position for their club? And if such a request came in, do you think anyone would take any notice?
Grub for contemplation...
Posted 11:55 01st November 2012
craigsman says...
I think it's good tactics by SL to release those players. The plan being to work on their game and keep em fresh(ish) for the big guns.
Posted 07:12 01st November 2012
melkdave says...
Right call on Robshaw he has shown he can lead,though id stil perfer him at bl;indside myself ,with S.Armitage at openside ,But as the saying goes if wishes where horses ect.As to players retuirning to their clubs ,i wouldnt read to much into it .Some players need to sharpen up ,while others like M.Brown just need to keep their edge.Im hoping England will once again show improvement this aurtum ,and get wins over Fiji,S.Africa and Australia.I dont expect them to be victorious over N.Zealand though just push them to their limits ,and losing by 3 or less would be acceptable at least to me lol.England i feel are capable of doing this atm,but with everything worth while its going to take alot of effort and belief
Posted 16:26 31st October 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
I think Brown got a knock in his last game. Perhaps a rest / bit of treatment. I dont think he has anything to prove as the in form fullback. Unless they want to see him on the wing... we'll need at least one 15 to play wing through november.
I think Youngs can get a game following a good performance as he is fresh back ... and perhaps Dowson/Morgan/Haskell might be playing for the No8 slot if their club coaches select them at 8. I am a big Wood fan but dont think he deserves preference yet. Lawes likewise. They both need a few more games. I'd have sent Wood back to Saints and kept Dowson who has proven his consistent form already and should be there for England as bench or starting at 8. Wood with a really great game for Saints could have entered the 15 like Youngs but doesnt deserve it yet. Wood needs game time, Dowson doesn't and so far this season Dowson has been a yard quicker than Wood from what i have seen.
Posted 13:57 31st October 2012
Jediboy says...
Apparently CL could be fit in one to two weeks. And it'd be nice to see him staying for too!!
Well done to Robshaw, the right call I think.
Posted 13:21 31st October 2012
heart_of_oak says...
NHsaints - that's not how I read it. The last sentence implies that all the players going back to their clubs have a chance to stake a claim for a place in the team to face Fiji.
Do keep us posted on Courtney Lawes, won't you ? We need him.
Cheers
Posted 12:41 31st October 2012
NHsaints says...
hold up a second? Brown has been released to play for quinns? does that mean Goode will be starting 15?
Posted 11:53 31st October 2012
sirtidychris says...
Eye eye captain!
Posted 22:51 30th October 2012