Robshaw looks for inspiration
February 01, 2012 08:46:05 UK
England's new skipper Chris Robshaw will look to take inspiration from World Cup final leaders Richie McCaw and Thierry Dusautoir.
Robshaw assumes command for his country's first two Six Nations encounters against Italy and Scotland despite only obtaining one cap so far in his career.
England are 26.00 to win the Six Nations title this season and 4.00 to claim the Triple Crown. They can also be backed at 34.00 to complete a Grand Slam.
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I'm not one to rant and rave, there's a time and a place for that.
Chris Robshaw
However, having experienced captaincy with his club side Harlequins, who currently preside at the top of the Aviva Premiership table and are 3.00 to win the Grand Final, he was viewed as the ideal candidate by boss Stuart Lancaster.
The blindside flanker faced stiff competition from hooker Dylan Hartley and Tom Croft, but the Quins' back-rower is now looking to draw on the leadership qualities of other captains.
He said: "You look at Richie McCaw and what he's done by leading the All Blacks to the World Cup. Also, Thierry Dusautior epitomises leading by example in that World Cup defeat. In the whole World Cup, he was absolutely outstanding and being man of the match in the final of a superb game."
Despite taking heed of established international stars, Robshaw says he will still lead England in his own image: unassuming, hard working and modest.
"I'm not one to rant and rave, there's a time and a place for that, it's more about going out there and hopefully doing it by example, just putting in that hard work and doing it on the pitch," he added.
"Stuart and the coaches have given us a game plan on how we want to play and progress, and put it over to the players to help drive the standards and drive the squad forward in the right way."
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