Chris Robshaw is a major fitness doubt for Harlequins European Champions Cup tie against Leinster on Saturday. Robshaw and Nick Evans, the club’s former All Black fly-half, are still recovering from Sunday’s intense win over the same opponents and are unlikely starters in Dublin.
Robshaw played every minute of England’s four autumn Tests and stayed on the field against Leinster despite a couple of heavy knocks, including one to his shoulder, but it seems his relentless commitment has caught up with him. “From where I sit Chris’s injury is probably more worrying but we’ll see,” said Conor O’Shea, the Quins’ director of rugby.
“He’s doubtful and I wouldn’t say Nick will make it either.”
The influential Evans lasted 13 minutes at the Stoop before being replaced because of an adductor strain and a sore back. His 21-year-old replacement, Tim Swiel, is likely to find himself thrust into the spotlight again for a game O’Shea believes will be even more brutal than the first encounter. “It will be a war and a physical battle but we’re not going there just to soak it up,” he said.
“We want to put on a show that does ourselves justice which we haven’t done at times this season but we’re one of only two teams to be unbeaten after three games in the Champions Cup so we can’t be that crap.”
The Wales flanker Dan Lydiate has become only the second player after the national captain Sam Warburton to sign a dual central contract with the Welsh Rugby Union. Lydiate, 26, will play for the Ospreys after being released from his contract at Racing Métro, having opted not to rejoin his previous side the Dragons. Lydiate has won 41 Wales caps and featured in all three Tests on the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia in 2013.
