Danny Care tells Eddie Jones: Chris Robshaw is the right man to captain England

Care in the community: Robshaw defended by Quins team-mate

Getty

Chris Jones4 December 2015

Danny Care today launched a ferocious defence of England captain Chris Robshaw, whose position is under threat following the arrival of Eddie Jones as head coach.

Captaining Harlequins makes Care an obvious candidate to lead England but the scrum-half insists club-mate Robshaw, who led his country in 42 of his 43 Tests under axed head coach Stuart Lancaster, remains the best choice despite the World Cup failure.

Care, who today signed a new, long-term contract with Quins, is unwavering in his support of Robshaw and said: “I have some brilliant leaders around me at The Stoop, including the England captain. Everyone is pretty sick about people taking shots at Chris all the time but he deserves to be England captain.

“For me, there is no better No6 or No7 in England and he could play in either position and he has everything you need. He has the bit between his teeth this season.”

Robshaw will have a face-to-face meeting with Jones shortly as the new head coach has been stuck in Japan awaiting a work permit to allow him to take up his new job.

Jones, the former Australia and Japan coach, does not see Robshaw as an open-side flanker but this may change given the shortage of viable alternatives heading into the Six Nations, in which England kick off their campaign with difficult trip to Scotland on February 6.

Jones was expected to arrive at Heathrow from Tokyo today and could be present for Quins’ home game with London Irish at The Stoop tomorrow.

However, the 55-year-old’s first priority is to speak to England assistant coaches Andy Farrell, Graham Rowntree and Mike Catt about their futures with the Union.

Meanwhile, the Rugby Football Union are expected to back a scheme to spend £50million on building 100 artificial pitches around England to ensure there is a tangible legacy from the Rugby World Cup despite the failed challenge that saw Lancaster shown the door.

Tickets for Big Game 8 are available at www.quins.co.uk or by calling 0208 410 6010