England captain Chris Robshaw admitted he’d been laid low by the flak he encountered after some questionable decision-making during the 2012 end-of-year internationals.
Robshaw’s leadership qualities came under severe scrutiny following England’s losses at home to Australia and South Africa in November.
He was criticised for running kickable penalties against the Wallabies and then, with time running out the following week against the Springboks, his decision to tell Owen Farrell to go for goal with England four points behind and needing the five that would come from a try for victory.
Farrell landed the kick but time ran out and England lost 16-15.
However, England then ended the year on a colossal high when they returned to Twickenham the following week and, against all predictions, beat world champions New Zealand by a record 38-21.
It was just what Harlequins flanker Robshaw, who captained the London club to the Premiership title last season, needed after a rocky few weeks.
“Beating New Zealand like that was definitely satisfying for me. It’s always nice to finish on something special,” the 26-year-old openside said on Monday as he was confirmed as England captain by coach Stuart Lancaster for the Six Nations.
“The previous year, we as a team and myself had enjoyed a lot of good press.
“It was my first time experiencing the other side.
“The day after South Africa, I went into camp and my head was a bit down. I went home for the weekend to try and get away. I was a bit down and moping about.
“That night, the boys spoke to me and said, ‘Don’t worry – we’re going to win this weekend and it will be fine’.
“It really made me appreciate the character of the guys we have in the England squad at the moment.”
England, runners-up in last season’s Six Nations, head into their 2013 opener at home to Scotland on February 2 as one of the favourites for the tournament with France, the other major European side who impressed during the autumn Test series.
And Robshaw said it was vital England maintained the standards they had set for themselves against the All Blacks.
“New Zealand is the benchmark of where we want to be as a team. It’s where we strive to be,” he said.
“We believed we could beat them. When you’ve been kicked down and written off, and this and that and has been said about you, it makes you closer together.
“It bonds you and puts your backs against the wall. You want to prove people wrong.
“But the win against New Zealand has gone. Now it’s about the Six Nations.”
England are no longer an unknown quantity and Robshaw accepts they will face increased expectations as a result of their win over the All Blacks.
“There might become a bit more pressure because of the autumn, but it’s about dealing with that.
“It’s a different type of situation that everyone’s very excited about. It’s about backing up what we did last year.”
Rugby
Guest
Well first of all, you ended your comment with 'grrr' indicating your frustration as to people being critical of English rugby. To me, that is being defensive. Steve Hanson and the Kiwi's won't moan because they're good losers. They take it on the chin and won't make excuses even though deep down they knew this effected them. They'll just put 50 points on England next time they play each other. It appears that you''re the one who needs to get over it, not me. I was merely asking a genuine question in response to your post. Who's fighting?
well, it has been fun thanks. ;) See you next time.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
And can you explain to me how I'm being 'so defensive' as opposed to pointing out the absurdity of your comment? Frankly, 'Rugby' (sideyes) if Steve Hansen doesn't moan then that's good enough for me, and regardless of that result England have drawn in SA (something beyond Australia and Argentina this season) and last season they won away in Scotland, Italy and France and whacked Ireland at Twickenham. The games against Australia and SA were incredibly close, and bearing in mind this England side had less than 200 caps in the Autumn clearly your assertion borders on the ridiculous. Just get over it and pick a fight on another site.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
Sure. Sure. You've been unrelentingly realistic about the Boks. I stand corrected. And me refuting your assertion is me reading into things. Again. corrected I stand.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Call me crazy, but I'd want a player playing in position...
Who's cheering? You are making assumptions. go back to some articles I have done on the Boks and Heyneke Meyer over the past 8 months there has been plenty of critiicisms and suggestions from my side as to what needs to be done to improve the Boks. Teonly comment I made is the rot has stopped. If you read that in context with the conversation here it pertains to loding against OZ at home. Where you get your assumptions from is mind boggling at times. You are reading into my comments what you want and not what it means.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
England have the best draw IMO with three home games although two are against The scots and Italians. The welsh have a weird one with three away games in a row in the middle. Could be all over pretty quickly. For me, the final of the tournament will be England vs france at round 3. I expect both teams to be 2-0 then. Grand slam for France
Hightackle
Guest
Eng Ire Fra Wal Sco Ital But imo Fra, Eng or Ire could win. I am not sure you can say NZ would have won if they didnt get sick. Im also pretty sure that when asked after the game McCaw said the illness had nothing to do with it and if it had they would have fallen away at the end of each half and that clearly wasnt the case.
Hightackle
Guest
What other option at 12 was there? And lets not pretend that you wouldnt want a Queenslaner instead. It seems to be the standard. Obsessed? POT, KETTLE, BLACK?
Rugby
Guest
Ben S: Why are you so defensive about England? Can you honestly tell me that if the Kiwi's did not have the virus the week leading up to the game, England would have won? Hightackle: Well considering they probably won't achieve a 17 point victory or victory alone over the AB's for another couple of decades, i'd consider it to be lucky. England will do well in the 6N, but I don't believe they will win it. Maybe 3rd place?
Ben.S
Roar Guru
I would have expected SA to beat a side ranked considerably lower than them and a side with less than 200 caps. In the circumstances the home draw must have been gutting. Clearly I don't have a problem with South Africa, nor do I have a problem with you. What I'm pointing out, as I've pointed out before, is that there has basically been nothing to cheer about from a Springbok perspective this season. The side has in no way played any better than it did under PdV, and the results have been mediocre too, especially by the lofty Springbok standards. Absolutely nothing has changed, and yet it's the same old thing we hear every few months from Springbok supporters. Really, come now.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
What's this got to do with tapaui? You're a tad obsessed...
Well we beat your team 3 times last year. And gave you a draw. Don't really know why you have such an issue with the Springboks, but we'll improve, it is only a matter of time, you can of course believe whatever you want.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
Aah... ranking number 2. The Robbie Deans excuse. Everything must be rosy in the garden in that case...
Justin2
Guest
I don't think many people doubt we have gone backwards since we played such good rugby a few years ago. I wasn't just referring to the Boks record, it's obvious we are playing dreadful football and have since the RWC.
You need to pay attention BenS. Total new pack, 10 retirements and a bucket load of injuries. We are still ranked 2nd, a tad up from last year. ;)
Ben.S
Roar Guru
'but it's true' and I know this because I have fingers in the Italian, French, Irish, Welsh and Scottish camps. Grrr.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
PDV is gone and the rot was stopped... by a 3rd place finish in the RC, and uninspiring results/performances against England at home and on the European tour... Don't really see what's changed?
Hightackle
Guest
Justin its not his record. Under PDV the Boks were very good and were very successfull against NZ. The Boks 3rd most successfull stint in the pro era was under PDV. In 2012 it was 1 all. Thats "gone backwards dramatically" in your books? It must be becuz Deans sux and PDV sux even more right? So predictable. So wrong. No thinking. All emotion. So sad.
Hightackle
Guest
The rest of Europe? Eng vs Europe in 2011+2012. Eng 13 Europe 4 Rugby you do know we are talking about rugby union right? A "lucky" win by a record margin? Anyway I dont think any team in the 6 nations will fear anyone. I however think that Eng will win the 6 nats. Robshaw wont be the Lions captain. Maybe in 2017.