It’s fair to say that it is looking unlikely that Chris Robshaw will continue as England captain now Eddie Jones has been appointed as head coach – the Australian has made it clear in his comments to the media that he is not Robshaw’s biggest fan.
Jones has also said that the team should be picked first, and then the captain, implying that it must be a player that is guaranteed of his starting place. That, of course, rather whittles the list down.
With that in mind, who do you want to see appointed as the new England rugby captain? There are several names that will likely be in the reckoning, whom we have listed below – so vote in the poll, and leave your thoughts below.
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wow people are voting for Hartley as captain. i don’t even want him to captain saints anymore let alone England
good player but bad captain
Not sure many of these portential captains will even be in Eddie’s starting lineup …..
I would make Brown captain – I know it unlikely he will make the next WC but I don’t think we need a complete clear out like 2011, and if we ignore everything and just pick our best side right now, he is probably our one ‘guaranteed’ pick. A few players have to go, sure, but lets focus on getting a winning team which naturally evolves over the next few years. The core is young enough to still be there and we can bring new players in as and when they are ready – in a similar way to the All Blacks. i.e. Brown stays at fullback as he is still our best, and then in a couple of years Watson will move to be the first choice fullback and guys like Launchbury or Itoje will have more experience and can move into the captain role.
Agree 100%.
It may be sensible not to emphasize the captaincy too much this time around, so we aren’t left whether the guy is playing because he is captain rather than the best in his position.
How about Youngs or Brown while Jones gets his house in order through the 2016 6N, then one of Slade, Launchbury or Itoje who are likely to be fixtures through to 2019?
If we’re selecting a captain it should be done the same way the coach has been selected. Who has the best credentials for the job?
This is why I have voted for Itoje. Captain of an England U20’s team that one the World Cup, and captained Saracens to LV Cup and A league victories last season. He’s ready for the step up, and (barring any serious incidents) will still be in the team in four years time as he’s only 21. The only other player on that list I would like to see as captain is Ben Youngs, as he’s captained his club before and when on form would be my first choice 9.
Agree with JK’s point. We don’t need to decide a Captain for the next 4 years, we need a group of 5 or 6 leaders all capable of being Captain.
I don’t see the need to burden Itoje with the role from the (presumed) start of his career, would pick Youngs for the 6N and take stock from there.
Can’t believe the shouts for Brown for captain. All of the criticism of Robshaw for not thinking clearly under pressure – this isn’t fixed by picking Mr Angry as captain. Committed and full on player undoubtedly but not someone you want near team decision making or talking to the ref.
Absolutely agree with that Brighty!!!!!
Not only that, but he just doesn’t seem like a guy people would want to follow (I say this having never met the man). Looking at other captains around the world and they’re guys you could easily imagine ‘following into battle’. I can’t see this in Brown.
A captain is:
1. The player who is going to make the right decisions on the field.
2. The player who can read a game and say and do the right things to tweak tactics and lift players
3. The player who has a good rapport with the ref and is able to point out areas of concern
4. The player who leads by example and brings others within the team along with him
Robshaw failed on 1-3 of the above
Also worth mentioning looking at the voting above a captain is not:
1. The player that gives the best interviews after the game
2. The player who shows the most passion
3. The prettiest face who can act as a poster boy for english rugby
I would think Slade (pretty face aside, that’s not his fault) fits your criteria.
lacks experience as captain so can only theorise whether he shows these characteristics.
I would say Ben Youngs (captains Leicester, can read the game) short term with a veiw to making Itoje captain in the long run
Courtney Lawes – certain of place & like Johnson – few words & leads by example
For me it is between Lauchbury and Ben Youngs. Both have experience at international level and are pretty much sure of their place in the side. Both are level headed, understand the game, could talk to the ref and both demand the respect of the players.
Itoje certainly appears to be a future England captain but I just think it is too soon for him to be thrown in as skipper; the media will be all over him.
Some hilarious shouts above. Mike Brown as a captain!? Madness. Brilliant full back but he’s hardly the calming influence on the team that is needed.
Exactly
Matt Kvesic
Haha seeing as I was the guy who said Mike Brown as captain, feel I should defend my choice. I know he has the nickname of Mr Angry, but as a rugby player I think he was the one person who always makes the right decisions on the field. I wouldn’t confuse passion and aggression in contact with being a mindless player who constantly has the red mist. From all accounts of his teammates, he has a very sharp rugby brain who organises the back three brilliantly. I think given the captaincy he would rise to the occassion – just like Haskell did at Wasps. Anyway just my view, but I think the impression we get of Mike Brown over the TV, because he likes to get aggressive, is not the real Mike Brown
Also lets remember that Joe Marler was a good captain for quins last year – another labelled as an angry thug….
Someone said on commentary the other day Marler didn’t enjoy being captain. Presumably why Danny Care got the job.
When was Marler ever labelled an angry thug? He’s a narcissistic div as far as I can see, one of those boring “I’m a bit mad I am! Wahey!” planks but I’ve never ever thought of him as any sort of a thug. I can’t imagine him doing much of anything in a barney.
Henry, I’ve seen too many counterpoint examples from him to agree with you.
– world cup, picking a fight with Warburton (who just laughed it off)
– running in from umpteen yards to join or start a fight
– last night shooting his mouth off on Twitter about Matthew Rees
None of these are the actions of a captain in waiting.
On the Rees thing – not sure if anyone else has seen it. I was at the ground so have not seen the detail. All I can say is that no Quins players had a go at him and one even patted him in sympathy as he walked off. The brief replay they showed in the ground made it look reckless. Suspect he’ll get a long ban, no issue with that. However, for Mike Brown to use Twitter to demand a fellow pro gets a long ban, before any consideration of evidence etc., shows that he is EXACTLY the person he comes across as – Mr Angry.
Oh, and by using Haskell as a positive example of anything you’ve broken your own argument :-)
Was listening to commentary – they said Easter went nuts about it…?
I didn’t see that JK but I think being there gives you the worst view so can’t say it didn’t happen. He got a straight red card and is looking at a 20 week+ ban I suspect. I just hope it wasn’t malicious.
Personally they need to throw the book at him. We were edging our way back into the game just when he did that, bloody idiot.
Anyway, my pt is that an international captain in waiting wouldn’t be spraying about it all over Twitter. There is also the old issue of that “incident” in Australia that would no doubt be regurgitated if Brown was now made captain, I’m sure EJ is smart enough to realise he doesn’t want to get into that.
I expect a young player to get it – much the same reasons as Warbs i.e. on merit but also no baggage, sets the tone i.e. “I don’t care what your rep is, this is a clean slate”, etc.
Fair enough – take all your points on board, and I hadn’t seen/heard about last night’s incident (very bad timing considering my argument ha), although given Rees is a former Wales and Blues captain possibly adds something to the debate? I don’t really care what he does off the field (within reason), Robshaw was the archetypal school prefect captain and look how that worked out – all about decision making on the field… Something I will back Brown on. Also despite his fiery temper, he isn’t the yellow card magnet Hartley is. Maybe I am just optimistic, but I do think giving often giving fierier characters the captaincy forces them to take responsibility.
Itoje is my pick for future captain, but I think let him win some caps and get used to test level before putting that weight on him!
I think your captain has to have some responsibilities off the field. That Aus incident with Brown was very unsavoury but it was a long time ago. However, you wouldn’t want Cipriani style headlines about the England captain popping up as it just adds pressure on the coach and the squad. It’s no coincidence that Gats also selected a man who is tee-total, settled down, gets most excitement from walking his dog, etc. No drama means no unnecessary pressure. Ditto McCaw, O’Connel, etc.
Completely spot on, Brown draws headlines.
An international captain these days is as much about the media pressure and forming relationships with a ref.
AWJ appears to be more of the classic old school leader in the welsh squad now, but Warburton is the perfect modern day professional captain.
There’s a bit of a clip on Walesonline. You can’t see a huge amount, but it looked like it was clumsy and unlucky it caught Easter (who I can understand going nuts about it) where it did.
I expect it’ll be a long ban, but just because it caught someone’s face. I’m sure it’ll be longer than Huget’s!
Should be a very long ban indeed, because it was deliberately aimed towards a prone player’s face and landed VERY close to the bloke’s eye. Watch the replay, Rees looked down and lined Easter up. Nothing clumsy or unlucky about it.
Brighty
Don’t forget Brown Nose’s sulk with the journalists after THAT defeat to Wales in RWC 2015. Media savvy he ain’t.
Cannot blame Brown for his Twitter comments at all. It was an appalling stamp on his teammate’s face that missed Easter’s eye by centimetres
I’ve not seen worse for quite a while
All Brown said was that it needed a long ban. And he was entirely right
Giving Rees the benefit of the doubt, I think he was going to give Easter a boot to the shoulder/chest and got it wrong. Could have been very nasty though.
From the video footage I’ve seen, Rees looked down at Easter and lined him up.
Itoje has made 19 appearances for Saracens…he’s had a handful of good games and seems able to play at this level
But that’s just not enough to be made England captain – I think Jones should pick a captain for the 6 Nations and not beyond. At the very least he’d be mad to select anyone before he’s seen his group together.
Talking about a captain already is silly, but i’ll play along. Like Jones has said in the past, pick the team, then the captain. In the short term it will likely be one of the more experienced players, and then maybe change later. The only probably guaranteed starters in the above list are Brown and Launchbury at the moment, possibly Youngs. Somebody else mentioned Lawes – I’d say he definitely isn’t guaranteed to start with all the second row quality around.
For me, Brown would be a bad choice. Honest question – has a fullback ever been an international captain?
Most captains are forwards, especially back row, or scrumhalves as they are involved in most of the play and are close to the ref when the whistle goes – therefore he can ask questions, get the ref onside etc, rather than the FB running in and out.
Therefore I think in the short term Ben Youngs, if he is starting.
Pretty sure some French full backs have been captain and didn’t Jason Robinson captain England a couple of times from full back? I have captained a side from full back and can tell you it is a massive pain in the arse.
If the foreign based players become available, what about Armitage (Steffan)? A one of the few truly world class players England could select.
In his first media briefing Eddie has confirmed he will be keeping the “home based players only” rule.
I can’t wait until he starts chasing his central contracting…..
He said all the right things. Taking the individuals into account rather than the rule, if our future is Armitage rather than Kvesic, Fraser, Clifford, hopefully Ludlam, maybe O’Connor…we really do not to be looking to the (relatively) old man in France.
Guardian journo suggested we could do with Flood back as a ‘goal kicking 12’ today. Come on.
Captain is irrelevant as very few are certain picks for starting 15 and those who are, probably not captain material.. He needs to pick flare forward thinking players.. Nathan Hughes is a must in the summer.. get him involved now so is up to speed when he qualifies for England. .dave Ewers and henry slade from Exeter, jamie George saracens.elliott Daly wasps.. joe Simpson wasps.. players who can influence game..
I dont rate Ben Youngs as an international Player let alone Captain. Joe Launchbury my choice.
Eto………..Eto
Another public school boy for us to laugh then????
Knowsure = Cunmor House + Millfield
Eto = Salcome on my face PreparaTory School (with emphasis on the TORY)
Then Eto attended
St George’s School (well it had to be didn’t it??)
And then….the crowning turd in the water pipe..off to
Harrow ??????
(Oh come on Enoch you have got to be making this up about the next England Captain????)
No I am not……..All true …all true……..
The leopard changes its spots but the faces are still the same
Is there any reason why a decent education should preclude you from being a rugby player?
I think it was Henry who said Brown could channel his anger in the right way! I agree.
Brown for me. He is a dead cert in his position. He is passionate. English and passionate?? That’s a good thing for once (how can it not be?)
Whatever he has said on Twitter to date is irrelevant! He is not commenting in the capacity of England Captain but Mike Brown number 15 for Harlequins.
He would be guaranteed to lead by example which is what is required from a captain (he would be a latter day Will Carling with an edge!)
An English captain with passion – Well I never!
Enoch, do you have a PROBLEM with public school educated people or is it just prejudice!
Do you know any! If not try meeting and even getting to know one and your prejudices will be almost certainly dispelled!
No. He has a problem with England, full stop. If it wasn’t this it would be another lenghty diatribe. He can turn literally any post into an anti-english rant. Ignore it.
WC was a posh boy and was a good leader. The educational background of the captain is not relevant. What is important is the captain has the right skills to lead a team. He also has to warrant his place in the team on merit, which CR did not. JL does appear a safe choice, but I would go for MI who has in my view all the qualities that are required to captain England.
More inches devoted to this than that of Hammurabi’s law code.
I’d go for Easter, but he has no long term future, although he could be the ‘interim’ skipper. Talks more sense than anyone I’ve heard from on the field & doesn’t do much wrong. Wiley, calm & unlikely to make a wrong decision.
Otherwise I’d go for Hartley. Might seem a duff pick @ 1st, but the responsibility could bring out the ‘adult’ in him. Plenty exp & leads by exp.
Not sure his Northampton misdemeanors really bear that out. I think Dickson said that Hartley asked Mallinder to take it away from him, something to do with too much responsibility with a newborn child adding to his workload. Would he want it?
With Billy, Ben, Nathan Hughes soon (probably), plus others – can’t see Easter getting another game for England. He’d be a good captain though.
Well as you know, the now discredited Lancaster put his eggs into the ‘yoof’ basket (must’ve been a fan of Jana’ Stright-Por’ah) & poo, poohed the AB’s for having ‘9 guys over 30’ in their squad, but who proved that exp counted for something in the end?
Hence, the exp Easter might not be such a daft a choice… to kick off with anyway. And Brad Thorn might agree, age wise anyway.
…by e.g.
Don
Ha ha..classic utterly classic or rather how very Bronze Age of you.
Perhaps the posts will run to longer than Caesar’s account of the Gallic Wars or the unabridged version of the Mahabharata
There again any reference to English rugby (as played the one and only Rugby Master Race of Herrenvolk Superbeings) should really draw its inspiration from the works of the Juvenal.
Given that their fans/the media already believe they have won the 6n 2016 in 2015.
Bur Enoch, I’m almost certain that Hammurabi was not in the Bronze Final?!
Any rate, maybe he’s be a good choice for England skipper?
Yes and having lived in the 2nd millennium BC I think your Babylonian Emperor would represent the very forward-looking style that English rugby has been lacking of late.
Ecce Homme!!!!