Chris Robshaw thought that he was in for a relaxing week as a tourist in Argentina, but he will end it as England’s newest cap, having displaced James Haskell in the back row in Martin Johnson’s side.
Robshaw, 23 last week, is one of two changes to the team to face Argentina on Saturday in England’s final match of the season. He is someone new, while Julian White is the experienced hand recalled for the intimidating environment of Salta.
“I thought I was going to have a pretty quiet trip, especially after such a great win last week,” Robshaw said. “I am honoured. It is great Johnno has given me my chance. Hopefully I can repay him.”
Robshaw’s selection is well deserved after a superb season in which he has locked horns with players such as Rocky Elsom and Sergio Parisse and more than held his own as Harlequins reached the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup. The sustained quality of his performances for his club, who also reached the play-off semi-finals, earned him the accolade of the Guinness Premiership Player of the Season.
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The Redhill-born flanker has enjoyed a meteoric rise at Harlequins, whom he joined from Millfield School. He made his club debut in 2005-06 and under the tutelage of Andr? Vos, the former South Africa captain, at the Twickenham Stoop, his career blossomed.
Haskell, 24, who is bound for Stade Français and who a year ago in New Zealand seemed to have secured a golden future, will be unhappy to have ended a disappointing season as in effect third-choice No 6 behind Tom Croft and Robshaw and especially after performing well at Old Trafford in Saturday’s 37-15 win over Argentina. Johnson said the switch was part of a specific game plan.
“He [Robshaw} is consistently good over the ball with a very high workrate,” Johnson said. “James has the flexibility to cover all three positions from the bench. It’s still early in James’s career and he has a lot of improvements to make. He can get better.”
White, 36, is at the other end of the international spectrum. The prop returns after his cameo appearance for his 50th cap from the bench on Saturday, which resulted in a yellow card after six minutes. Johnson will make clear to White that he cannot afford any more rushes of blood to the head, whatever the provocation.
White replaces David Wilson, who Johnson said has a big future in the game. Wilson is on the bench alongside Haskell, while George Chuter comes in as reserve hooker. Steve Thompson and Jordan Crane drop out of the 22.
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Argentina have made six changes and are strengthened by the return of Mario Ledesma and Rimas ?lvarez Kairelis.
Argentina team (to play England in Salta on Saturday): H Agulla; F Leonelli, G Tiesi, S Fern?ndez, G Camacho; J M Hern?ndez, A Lalanne; R Roncero, M Ledesma, M Ayerza, R ?lvarez Kairelis, P Albacete, G Fessia, J M Leguizam?n, J M Fern?ndez Lobbe. Replacements: A Vernet Basualdo, J P Orlandi, M Carizza, E Lozada, N Vergallo, M Avramovic, L G Amorosino.
England: D Armitage; M Cueto, D Hipkiss, T May, M Banahan; A Goode, D Care; T Payne, D Hartley, J White, S Borthwick, L Deacon, C Robshaw, S Armitage, N Easter. Replacements: G Chuter, D Wilson, B Kay, J Haskell, P Hodgson, S Vesty, M Tait.