Rugby World Cup 2015: Harlequins boss defends England captain Chris Robshaw

Quins boss hits out over the treatment of his England skipper
Captain fantastic: Quins boss defends Robshaw
David Rogers/Getty Images
Chris Jones10 September 2015

Chris Robshaw’s club boss today hit out at the England captain’s detractors and dismissed their criticism as “garbage”.

Robshaw came under fire again following last month’s defeat by France in Paris and knows his performance will be put under the microscope in the final World Cup warm-up against Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday.

But Harlequins director of rugby Conor O’Shea is furious at the treatment meted out to the club’s open-side flanker and said: “It is quite frankly boring and I am absolutely fed up with people coming up with these claims that Chris does this or doesn’t do that.”

England’s failure to win the key breakdown area in Paris was blamed on Robshaw but O’Shea added: “I have said to Chris that if England win the World Cup he will be knighted and if they lose it then he will be Guy Fawkes!

“Chris would prefer to stick his head above the parapet and say, ‘I will lead my country knowing what comes with the job’. People just trot out the usual garbage just to get their name in the papers. Chris is England captain and fully aware that he is the most examined player in the world.

“One of the All Black coaches told me that until they examined Chris closely they didn’t realise just what he did. They are the people who matter, not those who have a quick look at him and give their verdict.”

And the QBE ambassador added: “Chris has given and will continue to give so much to England and I am sure that in the build up to this match there will be examples of when he has been beaten to the breakdown but no examples of the million times he hasn’t.”

O’Conor is adamant that, although injury in Saturday’s clash would be a crushing blow for any of the players, anyone who expects them to ease off is “delusional”.

England and Ireland both lost on their last outings, so will go into the Twickenham showdown desperate to create some momentum, which guarantees a “full-bloodied” encounter.

O’Shea has four players in England’s squad, including Robshaw, and said: “There is a huge amount at stake for both teams — and anyone who thinks this is a friendly is delusional. Both sets of players will be going full metal at this.

“Do I expect a sad story out of the game with the World Cup around the corner? I kind of do, because it will only take a tweaked medial ligament and you’re out of the tournament.

“However, players will never go into any game with that mindset and that’s absolutely right. I hope everyone comes through unscathed.

“It is unbelievably exciting to have the Cup about to start. When you looked at the lead-up QBE matches, this one —England versus Ireland — was always going to be a full-blooded Test match.”

O’Shea is looking forward to running the rule over England’s midfield, with fit-again Brad Barritt (left) starting a Test for the first time alongside Bath’s Jonathan Joseph.

They are England’s first-choice centre combination, although Saracens star Barritt is often portrayed as just a solid defender.

“It is very unfair the way Brad is called limited as a player,” added O’Shea. “He may not be Matt Giteau but he does things that Giteau doesn’t — and what he gives every team is energy and a massive amount of communication skills.

“He commentates throughout the game and that is a great help to the guys inside and outside him.

“However, this will be his first match [following a calf injury] and he will be sucking diesel because it’s a big ask to start with a game like this when you have to give everything.”

Conor O’Shea was speaking on behalf of QBE Business Insurance, official insurance partner of the England Rugby team. For more info please visit: qbeeurope.com

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