Next England Captain

Come February there is going to be a huge issue surrounding who will lead the England national side. England will want to appoint a player who will be one of the first names down on the team sheet and will lead them up to and through the world cup in 2015. I personally would have gone for James Haskell, however his decision to go and play in Japan followed by New Zealand rules him out over the next year.

Here are my leading candidates....

1) Dylan Hartley - 25 - 34Caps - Hartley appears to be the most likely candidate to get the captaincy, however his world cup was marred by an off-field incident and he was labelled by Moody as one of the younger trouble makers in the squad. He lost his starting birth at hooker to Steve Thompson during the tournament. However he has been a fantastic captain for the Saints and has led by example, taking them to the Heineken Cup Final last season. Backed by Jim Mallinder.

2) Chris Robshaw - 25 - 1Cap - Robshaw can feel very hard done by on the international front. Tough competition and poor selection has led to Robshaw only receiving the solitary cap. A tremendous talent, who leads by example with his work-rate, link-play, tackling and ball carrying. The least internationally experienced option. However he led Quins to the Amlin Challenge Cup last season and ten wins out of ten this season. Backed by Conor O'Shea.

3) Tom Wood - 25 - 9Caps - A few pundits have called for Tom Wood as a surprise candidate for the England captaincy, some feel he may have the same impact as Sam Warburton for Wales. However I personally feel Wood is over-rated and with Tom Croft ahead of him in the pecking order and Robshaw in such tremendous form, he is not guaranteed a starting spot. A quiet lad, who would lead by example. Backed by Jim Mallinder.

4) Tom Croft - 25 - 31Caps - A quiet lad, who has never really quite lived up to his potential at international level. Captaincy could affect him in a positive manner and bring out the best in him, or it could have the adverse affect and put added pressure on a player who could be outstanding.

5) Ben Youngs - 22 - 17Caps - There is no doubt Youngs is Englands first choice scrum half, and he really could be world class. However through the world cup and post world cup he has been struggling with a knee injury. He's the youngest option, but could really grow into the role. Danny Care and Joe Simpson would probably be quiet upset by the decision, but Youngs wouldn't be a bad option.

6) Toby Flood - 26 - 46Caps - Another quiet lad, but the most experienced option. He was unlucky to lose his starting spot to Jonny in the world cup and will look to put in some impressive displays for Leicester over the next few months. Has the backing of Rugby World, however the captaincy could put a lot of added pressure on a player in such a pivotal position.

7) Ben Foden - 26 - 22Caps - He is a player no one has mentioned as of yet. However he is a certain starter, he would lead by example and hopefully once he has his first child he will mature more of a person and leave the off field issues after the world cup behind him. Could thrive with the added pressure.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15465481.stm

http://www.planet-rugby.co.za/story/0,25883,16024_7295178,00.html

I would say at this moment it would be Dylan Hartley, but if RobShaw get chance then he may well be Englands future captain.,,(Robshaw still has to make the England team though yet)

i think it will be Dylan Hartley to be honest.

Voted Croft, agree the captaincy could galvanise him and keep him in the thick of the action. Experienced, a Lion and plenty of top level club experience.

As a Saints fan it could be the thing that makes Hartley bring his club form and maturity to the England set up. Needs to rediscover some serious form and become first choice hooker again to stand any chance and I'm personally not a big fan of hookers or scrum half's as captains. They rarely finish the full 80 minutes due to specialist replacements and I feel your captain should stay on the pitch unless the game is well and truly won.

Robshaw has all on getting a starting spot for the England team. Need's to become established in the first chioce 22 before even thinking about the captaincy. I do hope he gets a chance to play in the 6N though.

Again I think Wood needs to establish himself as a first choice before being considered for the arm band.

Youngs - see Hartley. Also needs to mature a bit before being considered.

Flood - This could happen. Seems to play better for England when he knows he is first choice (see last years 6N). Making him captain could give him the confidence to raise his game. Was one of the leader group in NZ so MJ and the players obviously respect him.

Can't see it being Foden, not really involved in the action enough although he has certainly matured in the last 12 months.

However this could be irrelevant as it could be Easter for a year whilst the others establish themselves in the first team after the WC and things settle down. I guess it could also be Tindall as he still hasn't retired from England duty yet (unless someone knows something I don't)

I think that of the players you have listed that Robshaw is the most unlikely to be handed the captaincy. Generally the captain is one of the most indispensible players on the team sheet, something that Robshaw has only graced once.

Good player that he is I think the likelihood of him being made Captain in only his second cap is between slim and none, and slim has left town.

Robshaw is a good player and I know that you have your loyalties robshaw4england (I guess the clue's in the name here ) but he hasn't got a cat in hell's chance of the captaincy. Croft is a good choice IMO.

Chris Ashton. He's the only man safe of his place.

I think the problem we have at the moment is that there are so few players who are guarenteed their spot....

Foden, Ashton, Cole, i would say are definates with Lawes and Flood probables....

So from your list its difficult to pick a captain.

1) Dylan Hartley: Hartley is really not convincing me at all in an International Envrinoment as a player let alone captain.

2) Chris Robshaw: Has barely made the EPS in the past...but great player. However he is in Englands most competitive position.

3) Tom Wood: IM a huge fan of Wood...and would actually start him at 7 for the 6n games....but think he needs to cement his place first.

4) Tom Croft : Top player but im not sure he is what England are looking for at 6 at the moment.

5) Ben Youngs : Needs to concentrate on his game rather than worrying about the teams.

6) Toby Flood : Not leadership material

7) Ben Foden: Again a player who can make things happen but not a leader.

Two options not mentioned.....

1) Easter: With no obvious challengers for the 8 position you might think Easter is the safe option....and with his Experience could offer a short term answer.

2) Thompson: If he is still performing well...he may well keep the Hooker spot from Hartley...and with his experience...could be another short term answer.,...

I think England need to be bold and select a young, fresh and exciting captain. I voted for Croft. Was really showing some dog and grit to his game during the world cup.

flankertye wrote:I think England need to be bold and select a young, fresh and exciting captain. I voted for Croft. Was really showing some dog and grit to his game during the world cup.

Watch the games again Bathmad, you'll see.

Im afraid i missed all that dog and grunt aswell....for all Croft is a quality player....those are definately NOT one of his traits....and i think England are missing a powerhouse 6....

Graham Norton