LONDON, January 31, 2012 - New look England start again after their failure in Rugby World Cup last year by naming 24 year-old Chris Robshaw of Harlequins to captain the side for the first time against Scotland in the opening match in the RBS Six
Nations' championship in Edinburgh next Saturday.
Robshaw,a flanker, has only one cap and is indicative of the turn to youth as England try to carve out a new way forward. Aged 24,he has been playing since he was seven and has appeared 144 times for his club Harlequins which he has captained through an unbeaten season.
Robshaw said when his appointment was announced:"It is a huge honour and a very proud day for me. Hopefully the day will live in my memory for a long time to come.
"There are lots of other leaders in this group and they have been great since we met up.There are six or seven guys arouind me who all have a massive roles to play. We have a game plan and it is up to us to get it across to the other players to drive up standardsand the squad forward in the right way."
Robshaw,who stands 6ft 2ins(1.88m)and weighs 17st.4lb(110kg) has played once in Scotland before and will now lead England out at Murrayfield where the atmosphere will be intense after the close match between the two nations in the World Cup which England won.
Scottish politicians have been urging the Scottish fans to "paint Murrayfield Blue" and create a tidal wave of emotion just as they did in 1991when they saw off a much fancied England team.As a started for the Six Nations'Champiuonship it could not be bettered. |
