We will not know for a while yet, but Chris Robshaw, at least, should have a better idea now of what his prospects are as England captain. He met up with Eddie Jones, England’s new head coach, on Saturday night to hold the first of many chats Jones has lined up for himself as he gets to know the key movers and shakers in the English game.
It is only right that Robshaw be the first. And the man who now holds his former position as captain of Harlequins is in no doubt that Robshaw wants to continue as national skipper, for all the grief that comes with the job. “Of course he does,” said Danny Care. “I’m sure it’s the ultimate honour to captain England. It’s a huge honour to play for your country once; to captain it must be an unbelievable feeling. I’m sure he’s dying to stay in the role. He’s had stick from day one, but there aren’t many others I’d pick ahead of him.”
One thing’s for sure – anyone who has ever played with Robshaw or coached him seems to swear by him. Care is no different in this regard from Conor O’Shea or Stuart Lancaster. The pressure of a home World Cup did seem to affect Robshaw’s form, but he has been back to his tireless best since. “It’s the measure of the man to see how he’s come back,” said Care. “He has every man and his dog throwing their opinions, saying he shouldn’t be captain. For me, he’s a great England captain, and it’s tough to see him take the stick he does. But he gets on with it, works hard and tries to prove people wrong. He’s bounced back brilliantly from the World Cup.”
Care has not done too badly himself. Of Harlequins’ various England internationals out to impress the watching Jones during this rout of London Irish, he shone the brightest. O’Shea is never shy of backing his players, and he didn’t hold back in his celebration of Care. “There are some great scrum-halves around,” Quins’ director of rugby said. “But I would never pick a 23 without Danny Care in it. Ever. I just don’t know how you could. The man can change a game. Whether he starts or comes on off the bench, he can do things that others can’t.”
Certainly, Irish had no answer to Harlequins’ pace and ambition, best personified by the darting, sparkling Care. Five tries resulted, including one for Care himself, who finished a brilliant team effort. There was a hat-trick for Tim Visser, who may yet line up against Jones’s first England selection – for Scotland at Murrayfield in the Six Nations.
And what are the odds of O’Shea himself taking part in said championship? Zero, according to the man himself, but he did confirm that Italy, who are in search of a new head coach themselves, had been in touch. He left them in no doubt, apparently. “It’s flattering, a massive honour, but no, I’m not going anywhere. They’ve talked to me, but that’s natural. I’m sure they’re talking to a load of people. You’re always linked. There’s England jobs, Ireland jobs, club jobs. And it’s very flattering, but my job is here, full stop.”That job becomes a little less intense for the next two weeks. Harlequins, already top of their pool in the Challenge Cup with 10 points out of 10, now go home and away with Calvisano. The England boys are on holiday for two weeks. Care’s heading off to Antigua with his young family. When they return it will be to run out on the big stage across the road for Quins’ festive shindig – this year against Gloucester. Jones will then have to decide, if he hasn’t already, how many of them will be summoned for England on the same stage.
Harlequins Brown; Lindsay-Hague (Chisholm 24), Lowe, Sloan, Visser; Evans (Botica 74), Care (capt; Dickson 74); Marler (Lambert 74), Ward (Buchanan 71), Jones (Collier 62), Horwill, Twomey (Matthews 10), Robshaw, Wallace (Clifford 74), Easter. Tries Visser 3, Care, Clifford. Cons Evans 4, Botica. Pen Evans.
London Irish Ojo; Lewington, Hearn, Griffin (Maitland 23), Tikoirotuma; Noakes (Brophy-Clews 74), Allinson (McKibbin 54); Court (Smallbone 51), Ellis (Cruse 49), Franks (Aulika 64), Sheriff, Sinclair (Curry 74), Sisi (Treviranus 49), Cowan, Narraway (capt).
Try Aulika. Con Brophy Clews. Sin-bin Cruse 77.
Referee Luke Pearce. Attendance 14,800.
