England rugby EXCLUSIVE: Chris Robshaw on what playing for Eddie Jones is really like
CHRIS ROBSHAW will be one of the most experienced men in a white shirt when England run out against Italy, but winning 60 caps looked a long way off when he lost the captaincy in the wake of the disastrous 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign.
When you view Robshaw’s career as a whole, it has been quite the emotional rollercoaster.
His highs include being installed as skipper with just one cap to his name, a win over New Zealand in his first year and a famous 26-tackle performance to beat Wales in Cardiff in 2015.
The lows feature missing out on RWC selection in 2011 when in fine form, failure to win any of his four Six Nations tournaments as captain and of course the ignominy of England’s exit from a home World Cup at the group stage.
In the post-mortem of that ignominy, new coach Eddie Jones’ axe fell on many England careers.
But Robshaw, stripped of his commission and returned to the ranks, was retained by the Australian, who has since led England to only one defeat in just over two years.
“His player management is outstanding,” Robshaw told Express Sport.
“He knows how to get the best out of people, whether that’s a clip round the ear so to speak, a couple of harsh words, an encouragement or a responsibility.
“He treats everyone differently, gives people time and cares for his team.”
Robshaw himself too has grown into his role as an experienced backbencher serving on breakdown subcommittees and lineout think tanks.
In fact, the Harlequins flanker is so levelheaded these days - not that he ever really wasn't - that when Jones, king of the unorthodox team-sheet with his inside backs and “finishers” instead of replacements, named him co-captain with George Ford against Samoa in November, he barely seems to have batted an eyelid.
“I always try and go about my business and help the team and help players,” Robshaw added, recognising but also dismissing the significance attributed to the move from the outside.
“It just involved speaking a bit more but of course it’s always nice to have the coach’s support and your team-mates’ support but as a player, there wasn’t any kind of feeling of coming full circle or anything.”
However, there is no doubting the redemptive nature of Robshaw’s England career.
He will start today in the back row alongside Sam Simmonds, the three-cap 23-year-old whose relative inexperience will likely leave him leaning on Robshaw for guidance both on and off the field.
And should he hit trouble, there can be few better men to talk him through it.
“[The 2015 RWC] probably did make me more resilient,” Robshaw said.
“There’s no denying that it was a pretty tough time to go through. I was very vulnerable off the field.
“Camilla my partner was fantastic and my friends, my team-mates and family got me back through it. It wasn’t an easy patch and it did take a bit of time. It wasn’t an easy thing to go through.
“It has made my shoulders a bit broader though and makes me see things a bit differently.
“Whenever you go through these tough situations, it opens your eyes and now when other players go through it, I can try to help them as best I can.”
Whatever you think of Robshaw, never doubt his commitment to being and giving the best he can.
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