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Chris Robshaw backs England and Springboks ahead of the All Blacks for World Cup glory

By Online Editors
England's Chris Robshaw is heading to Major League Rugby. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Former England captain Chris Robshaw is tipping either the nation of which he played 66 times for or South Africa to win the World Cup ahead of the All Blacks.

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Having last played for England last June, Robshaw – who captained his country during their ill-fated 2015 World Cup campaign where they failed to make it out of the pool stages in front of their home fans – didn’t make Eddie Jones’ 31-man squad for this year’s tournament in Japan.

Nevertheless, the 33-year-old loose forward predicts that England and South Africa have enough quality throughout their squads to land the Webb Ellis Cup in November.

“I think it will be between England and South Africa,” he told The Guardian.

His pick at who will challenge for the world title may surprise some, as it is the All Blacks who are heading into the World Cup chasing their third consecutive crown.

“Of course I hope England win it. It would be brilliant for the guys and amazing for the country.

“Seeing the buzz about the football, in both the men’s and women’s World Cup, and now the Ashes, you realise how sport galvanises the country like nothing else. This England side has the potential to do that.”

Robshaw said the New Zealanders would be “thereabouts, but I like the look of England and South Africa.

With 15 players remaining in the England squad from the failed 2015 tournament, Robshaw believed that the hunger and desire within the side following the capitulation four years ago could be enough to spur the team to their second-ever World Cup title.

“I’ll be cheering England on as I’ve still got many friends in the squad. We’ve been through a lot and there are still guys who were with me in 2015. I know how they’ll be feeling, and how they’ll be hurting and wanting to put things right,” he said.

“I’m really excited about England’s chances. They’ve got a fantastic squad from what we’ve seen in the buildup games. They look dangerous and hungry. The pack is big and physical. The backline looks like it could scare anyone. It’s exciting.”

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After captaining his country 43 times – second only to Will Carling, who led his nation in 59 tests between 1988 and 1996 – Robshaw has accepted that it’s unlikely he’ll ever play for England again.

Chris Robshaw. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

“It does feel like the end because, realistically, you’re probably not going to play again. I’m 33 now.

“But you get back on the horse and I went to Twickenham with Sky Sports to watch the England [World Cup warm-up] game. After it’s over you feel tired. You’ve seen your old teammates. You’ve had a laugh with some of them. 80,000 people are there. You’re on the pitch. This is what it’s about. This is why you play the game. And now it’s over. After that I was a bit down.”

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Despite losing his place in the English set-up to younger loose forwards over the course of Jones’ tenure as head coach following the 2015 World Cup, Robshaw remains positive about his accomplishments in the test arena.

“As you get older, and as you move further away from the game, it gets easier. You look back and you think: ‘You know what? I did all right in the end.”

In other news:

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Adrian 1 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

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Trevor 4 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
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Bull Shark 8 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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