England head coach Stuart Lancaster has all but confirmed Chris Robshaw will be his captain at the 2015 World Cup with the intervention of injury the only threat to his position.
The ringmaster of Red Rose defiance in the tunnel before Friday’s stirring 21-16 Six Nations victory over Wales has had his growing authority endorsed by Lancaster, who insists it would take a “big change of heart” to look elsewhere.
Robshaw has been entrusted with the captaincy for the duration of Lancaster’s three-year stewardship, missing just three games at the helm due to being injured for the final Test against South Africa in 2012 and rested for the 2013 tour to Argentina.
And the 28-year-old is on course to lead England at their home World Cup in September and October after Lancaster suggested only a spell of enforced unavailability would compel him to seek an alternative.
“I sit and watch games on a weekly basis and watch players get injured. Things happen that are completely out of your control,” Lancaster said.
“But it would take a big change of heart now to move from the direction we’re going in with Chris.
“Chris has been excellent and we need to make sure we continue to back him.
“We certainly will in this Six Nations and, fingers crossed, he’ll be fit and available for June.”
Robshaw’s stature as captain has been growing steadily, but his refusal to submit to Welsh mind games in the minutes before kick off at the Millennium Stadium is being spoken of as a watershed moment.
Knowing Wales’ starting XV were still in their changing room, a steely-eyed Robshaw ordered his players to stand their ground when instructed by officials to make their entrance on to the pitch.
The incident evoked memories of Martin Johnson’s refusal to move his England team at Ireland’s request as they lined up before completing a Grand Slam in Dublin 12 years ago. Johnson went on to lift the World Cup later that year.
Lancaster has been reluctant to issue a public declaration of approval for the stance taken by his skipper, although there was clear appreciation for the manner in which Robshaw conducted his resistance.
“There is a fine line between arrogance and cussedness but I’d hate to think we come across as an arrogant team,” Lancaster said.
“You want to show what you are about as a group. That’s where you show it. I’d like to think there was no arrogance in the team but a confidence growing.
“As a group we have grown. It wouldn’t have been a decision I’d have encouraged him to do in my first game in charge. You do take your time to find your feet.”
Having faced down Wales shortly before kick-off of a pulsating Six Nations opener, Robshaw completed a remarkable 26 tackles in a signature display of relentless work rate to illustrate why he has earned the loyalty of England’s management.
“Chris been excellent. Confidence in your ability as a player is the fundamental thing behind leadership,” Lancaster said.
“You’ve got to be secure of your place in the team. He’s earned that and he earns it on a weekly basis.
“He did it again against Wales with the number of tackles he made, the turnovers he made and his contribution to the game.
“We look at people’s involvement, not just in the rucks but in their work-rate off the ball. He’s continually at the top of that as well. It’s less about the tunnel and more about playing hard on the field.
“He’s secure in his position in the team but he’s earned it. He’s earned the respect of all the players and as a consequence he’s leading them effectively.
“But he’s also got the strength of solidarity from the leaders around him as well. They back him up to the hilt.”
