Chris Robshaw, having navigated one of the toughest weeks of his rugby career, achieved the feat of becoming the sixth England captain to secure a victory over New Zealand.
The 38-21 triumph against the world champions was overwhelming, echoing the scoreline’s implication. Just a week prior, Robshaw exited the Twickenham pitch amid jeers, but last night he left to a chorus of cheers.
This has been a remarkable journey towards redemption, marked by an emotional transition from the despair of Springbok defeat to the joy of overcoming the All Blacks.
His choice to have Owen Farrell attempt a penalty while trailing by four points with only two minutes left during last week’s match against South Africa faced heavy criticism, particularly due to the public and lengthy dispute between Farrell and himself.
This decision alone didn’t cause England’s narrow defeat, but it undeniably contributed to a disappointing finish.
The situation worsened for Robshaw when Warren Gatland indicated that the England captain wasn’t top of his list for the upcoming Lions tour to Australia next summer.
However, following Saturday’s match, Robshaw could not only be competing in the back row for Gatland but might also take on the role of captain.
Robshaw’s relief was clear on his face, coupled with frustration over how England was treated post the South Africa game.
‘My confidence was high,’ he affirmed, noting, ‘My phone has been buzzing with support all week. It was simply about going out there and performing to the best of my ability.’
‘I believe we gave the critics the ideal response. The crowd was incredible, and scoring that number of tries was superb. That match stands out as the best I’ve ever participated in. Everyone donning the England shirt today was eager to disprove a few doubters, and we achieved just that.’
‘We approached the game with some anger. All week, they hadn’t given us a chance, had they? Some were speculating on how much New Zealand would defeat us by. Andy Farrell had mentioned that New Zealand were vulnerable during the week.’
‘We aimed to validate his statement. Each player was exceptional today.’
And indeed, they were. The magnitude of England’s record victory prompted even New Zealand to suggest that England might be contenders for the 2015 World Cup, irrespective of their fifth seeding for the upcoming group draw.
‘Today featured two teams capable of winning the World Cup,’ remarked All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.
‘We have no justifications. We were outplayed by the superior team. This is a very capable England squad.’
Richie McCaw, seated next to him, nodded in agreement.
‘There’s no question about the talent present in the England team,’ stated the New Zealand captain. ‘They’ll continue to improve with experience. I was quite impressed with their performance. Can they secure the World Cup? They’re certainly a significant threat.’
England’s management had promised this sort of performance throughout the autumn.
Following a dismal defeat against Australia and another loss to a South African side they should have overcome, New Zealand appeared to be the least likely opponent for England to excel against.
Yet, England delivered in a manner that few, if any, had anticipated.
by Terence Johns
