England Rugby Union Captain

[Vidor06]

Eddie Jones names his first squad today. Got to be expecting a few bolters in there but who will he name as captain? I really cant imagine that he will take the risk with Dylan Hartley. He is more likely to get sent off or injured these day as he is to put in a good performance.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Robshaw named as a number 6 and retain the captaincy for now.
Who are the other contenders? Launchbury - It might be a bit early in his career. Danny Care?

 

[Cubist]

Launchbury or Hartley. It may give Hartley what he needs to take responsibility. The team needs someone with a bit more bite than Robshaw........

 

[rugby bloke]

As a Saints fan I've seen the best and worse from our Dylan over the years. He would bring an edge to the pack that was sadly missing at the World Cup, but as any game against Tigers or Sarries has shown over the last few seasons he would be targeted for a cheap yellow.
Other than that the cupboard is a little bare. Launchbury would be a good shout, Robshaw is not the best 6 available, Care could work as a good 9 spends all his time telling the ref what to do any way. Wood would do a job but again I'm not sure if he is nailed down for the 7 shirt. No-one else really suitable in the back line, either too inexperienced or too petulant.

 

[martint235]

Care has a tendency to get b****cked by the ref and is therefore a risk. Courtney Lawes would make a decent captain I think.

 

[Milkfloat]

I cannot see how he can pick a captain that does not always start (for either club or country) - so Hartley is out (nevermind his discipline issues), Robshaw is suspect, so that does not leave too many options. I think it could ruin Launchbury, if he got it too early, I think too risky to try now. So that leaves Robshaw to keep it until someone comes along and shines.

 

[Aperitif]

Care. Room for growth, and leaves Robshaw clear to 'do what he does' week in, week out.
Mike Brown too - if there are enough wise men in front of him. Rub hands excitedly...rugby Six Nations is about to kick off! I tip Scotland to win it this time around, England second and the others third.

 

[Arrowfoot]

Painful memories.

 

[psmiffy]

I didnt know that there are restrictions on who Jones can pick in the squad ??

Under Rugby Football Union rules, Jones can change 11 players - including code convert Sam Burgess who left rugby union after the World Cup - from Lancaster's last squad.

Edit - there must be around 11 that are injured or retired from last squad

 

[martint235]

I didnt know that there are restrictions on who Jones can pick in the squad ??

Yep it's a bit crap really.

I see the BBC think Cipriani is still out in the cold which would suggest Jones is going to be putting together a relatively boring team to just try to grind out results. Oh well

 

[rugby bloke]

So that's Slade injured, Corbs temp retirement, Brookes injured, Burgess buggered off back to league, off the top of my head.

 

[Aperitif]

Is Dickie Jeeps in the squad. He'd be my captain. He's got quite a lot of experience.

a 4x4 pack...
I'd go for a Russian Prince myself - sponsorship of the team would be plentiful, and a royal ditty mightn't go amiss.
That's a bit Obolique. Endski this here.
On an associated note; what will the 'National' anthem be after today? "O Flouer o England, Whan will we see..."

 

[nickyboy]

Does it matter who is captain?

Sure, in cricket the captain is central to on-field (and to some extent off-field) decision making. Choice of cricket captain really matters.

In football it doesn't matter at all. Just a title

Rugby captains are a lot more like football captains than they are like cricket captains. All the serious decision making is done by the coaches

 

[rugby bloke]

I would disagree, a good rugby captain can make a massive difference. A good team will have licence to make the right decisions on the pitch and a strong captain is vital to this. A captain who can communicate effectively with the ref is also important. Plus the little things ... think back to when the Welsh made the English team wait in the tunnel before the game at the Millennium. Would Martin Johnston have stood for that ? Take the lads back into the changing room and wait for Sir to come and get them when it was actually time to go onto the pitch.

 

[nickyboy]

I would disagree, a good rugby captain can make a massive difference. A good team will have licence to make the right decisions on the pitch and a strong captain is vital to this. A captain who can communicate effectively with the ref is also important. Plus the little things ... think back to when the Welsh made the English team wait in the tunnel before the game at the Millennium. Would Martin Johnston have stood for that ? Take the lads back into the changing room and wait for Sir to come and get them when it was actually time to go onto the pitch.

Agree re ref communication. On field decision making.....I don't think so. All the key decisions are made by the coaching staff at International level

 

[rugby bloke]

In which case it would be interesting who made the calls at the end of the England / Wales RWC game ... kick to the corner - good if a little risky, throw to front jumper - crazy !