Robshaw confirmed as England captain for the 6 nations

Well....

I don't think anyone saw that coming....

EDIT: I should point out it's only confirmed for the first two games, if a mod could alter the title. Ta much!

No pressure then.

"It's not about myself because there are six or seven guys around me who all have a massive role to play - there's lots of other leaders in the group."

Where? I feel this was a poor choice of words, if not inevitable. The media might have other ideas around whether it's all about him or not. Let's hope they/everyone gives the lad a go.

nathan wrote:Well....

I don't think anyone saw that coming....

EDIT: I should point out it's only confirmed for the Scotland game, if a mod could alter the title. Ta much!

Says on the Beeb Sport site it for the first two games.

bedfordwelsh wrote:

nathan wrote:Well....

I don't think anyone saw that coming....

EDIT: I should point out it's only confirmed for the Scotland game, if a mod could alter the title. Ta much!

Says on the Beeb Sport site it for the first two games.

yeah the buggers just changed it! also isn't that when Wood will be back?

my work here is done.

Oh dear.

i think it is a good appointment he leads like martin johnson use to he got great work rate good ball carrier which england need

A big ask for him to take on this mantle against Scotland in Edinburgh. Baptism's of fire don't normally come much more difficult than that for an England captain.

I reckon he'll do a good job though. He certainly is a talented player. I just wonder if the psychological pressure will get to him.

2 untested Captains for the Calcutta Cup clash. Ross Ford has more than 50 caps under his belt though.

Blimey just a bit of pressure then.

Massive games are going to be needed from players like Croft, Hartley and Youngs to help him out.

Just tell him that against Scotland in Murrayfield, with our current pack at least, if we get a chance near the posts, unless we really need 7 points, to take the 3 points

ChequeredJersey wrote:Just tell him that against Scotland in Murrayfield, with our current pack at least, if we get a chance near the posts, unless we really need 7 points, to take the 3 points

robshaw4england wrote:my work here is done.

Now we get to see which one of us is correct about him. I really hope that you are and not me.

@robshaw4england Have you spontaneously combusted yet?

PS I think he is a woirthy choice

Well we won't be on the good side of any refs this tournament then, oh well.

If you tole me 6 months ago i wouldve eyebrowed that but given wahts been said in teh last wfew weeks and teh makeup of teh sqwuad its a real eyebrow.
Its perhaps a bit disrepectful to the senior players who set a good example under in the Old England but Lancaster is determined to be his own man.
Wood is obviousaly his first chocie ( strangely in tune with Rob Andrews thinking once again...) hence the just 2 games thing. I guess he'll then have to assess his backrow, and how Robs has done as Capatin to decide if he should put a bullet in him or Croft to get Wood in the side and in charge.

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:If you tole me 6 months ago i wouldve eyebrowed that but given wahts been said in teh last wfew weeks and teh makeup of teh sqwuad its a real eyebrow.
Its perhaps a bit disrepectful to the senior players who set a good example under in the Old England but Lancaster is determined to be his own man.
Wood is obviousaly his first chocie ( strangely in tune with Rob Andrews thinking once again...) hence the just 2 games thing. I guess he'll then have to assess his backrow, and how Robs has done as Capatin to decide if he should put a bullet in him or Croft to get Wood in the side and in charge.

I doubt it's as clear cut as that. If Wood was his stand-out first choice then he wouldn't have made Robshaw the captain now, as it would just cause problems when Wood gets fit again. If Robshaw does a good job for two games I'm sure he can hang on to it for the whole tournament.

thomh wrote:

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:If you tole me 6 months ago i wouldve eyebrowed that but given wahts been said in teh last wfew weeks and teh makeup of teh sqwuad its a real eyebrow.
Its perhaps a bit disrepectful to the senior players who set a good example under in the Old England but Lancaster is determined to be his own man.
Wood is obviousaly his first chocie ( strangely in tune with Rob Andrews thinking once again...) hence the just 2 games thing. I guess he'll then have to assess his backrow, and how Robs has done as Capatin to decide if he should put a bullet in him or Croft to get Wood in the side and in charge.

I doubt it's as clear cut as that. If Wood was his stand-out first choice then he wouldn't have made Robshaw the captain now, as it would just cause problems when Wood gets fit again. If Robshaw does a good job for two games I'm sure he can hang on to it for the whole tournament.

Well he has to make someone captain, so it kinda makes sense to give it to your second choice no? Whoever he made capatin wouldnt it be teh same problem when woods fit, you have to make a decision on whos first teh backrow and whos capaytin. Hes left himself that option. If Robshaw were his first choice I doubt they wouldve spent so much time saying it was going to be Wood, then make their first choice only a temporary appointment untill Woods expected back.
Im pretty sure I said previously that when Woods fit theyll have to make an assesment if they still want him in the side and as capatin based on how things have gone with the backrow as is and the leadership of Robshaw.

Lancaster had previously stated that he would develop a leadership group and move the captaincy around.

The captaincy is not only until Wood gets back. Lancaster has previously said that this 6N would see different personnel and combinations in order to give the squad some chance to press a claim. It may be that come the 3rd game, neither Wood or Robshaw will be there (unlikely though!!)

Does that mean goodbye Croft when Wood gets back? I hope so because he is a wing hanger with no grunt.

It's always possible...

Does that mean goodbye Croft when Wood gets back? I hope so because he is a wing hanger with no grunt

Excellent we'll have him back at WR quicker and see if we can get back all the points we lost whilst propping up the England side during the RWC.

I thought Robshaw was only incharge untill Wood got back from injury.

majesticimperialman wrote:I thought Robshaw was only incharge untill Wood got back from injury.

He is in charge for two games and possibly more. Lancaster has indicated that he may hand the captaincy around a bit during the tournament to build a new leadership group though.

Really? Apologies then I mustve missed that interview.

I actually think thats the smartest thing hes done yet. The permanent Capatins thing has caused issues for England in recent years. Unless someone emerges as an undroppable and inspirational leader Id be happy to see it stay as shared between a group of senior players. In reality its how sides are captained on the field anyway, with varius people responsible for their unit.
I just hope we dont see lurid headlines like " Robshaw stripped of Captaincy after just 2 games!" With the press looking to twist what they know isnt the case into a story.

thomh wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:I thought Robshaw was only incharge untill Wood got back from injury.

He is in charge for two games and possibly more. Lancaster has indicated that he may hand the captaincy around a bit during the tournament to build a new leadership group though.

Or it could be that Lancaster feels that like his the position may not be permanent.I doubt that Lancaster is thinking further than this tournament and if he gets the job on a permanent basis his choice of captain could change.

Seems a good appointment.Whole-hearted player with a brain.Seems a good combo to me.Good luck to the fella.

His gf is pretty fine as well, which is always a good criteria to judge captaincy credentials on.

yappysnap wrote:His gf is pretty fine as well, which is always a good criteria to judge captaincy credentials on.

Come on - no need for that kind of comment.
Not unless you have the pictures to back it up...

Where has Robshaw4England gone? Surely this is his crowning moment? I hope he's ok :-)

screamingaddabs wrote:Where has Robshaw4England gone? Surely this is his crowning moment? I hope he's ok :-)

He was about yesterday, though he may have spontaneously combusted overnight

His reason for existence is now fulfilled and he has returned to his dimension until he is needed again

Wait for the user "Guest4England" to register

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Wait for the user "Guest4England" to register

He better be careful or we won't have any backrow players left

Well i do hope he goes really well....and we shall see in a few days time...

However, more than the captaincy...im looking for him to be part of a back row (that i assume will contain Croft and Morgan also) that really tears in to the Scots at all areas of the game especially at the breakdown...and Mr Croft has alot to prove to many England Fans!

When is the team announced?

GeordieFalcon wrote:Well i do hope he goes really well....and we shall see in a few days time...

However, more than the captaincy...im looking for him to be part of a back row (that i assume will contain Croft and Morgan also) that really tears in to the Scots at all areas of the game especially at the breakdown...and Mr Croft has alot to prove to many England Fans!

Not sure why but I think he is going to pick Dowson at 8 with Morgan on the bench. I agree with you, the forwards do look a little under-powered and if not for total lack of experience there could have been an argument for picking Dowson in his club position at 6 with Morgan at 8 (Robshaw at 7). I'm a fan of Croft but he does need certain other players around him in order to bring his good points to a team and at Tigers that involves a strong front 5 and a decent ball carrying 8.

Anyway, back to the Robshaw captain thing. Hope he goes well but wouldn't have been my choice. Now has an unbelievable amount of pressure to play his own game well, play his fist true really competitive international and potentially try and lead a team that looks on paper a little under powered up front. Oh and play well enough to keep his place for when (or if) Wood regains fitness. All this away at a pretty hostile place as well! Plus I agree with others, I've seen him rub ref's up the wrong way in the past and that always turns out well for England, just look how successful Mr Borthwick was. Hartley would have been my choice until Wood returned (I'm not usually a fan of specialist positions being captain but would have made an exception in this case).