Aviva Premiership
Conor O'Shea: You cannot write off Robshaw
PA Sport
November 29, 2015
© (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Harlequins boss Conor O'Shea lavished praise on under-pressure England captain Chris Robshaw after his team suffered a 26-25 Aviva Premiership defeat to Exeter at Sandy Park.

New England head coach Eddie Jones officially starts work next Tuesday, and it is widely expected that he will replace Robshaw as skipper for the RBS 6 Nations campaign later this season. Jones' predecessor Stuart Lancaster paid the price for England's dismal Rugby World Cup campaign that saw them make a pool-stage exit, with Robshaw, who has captained his country 42 times, now facing an uncertain Test future.

Despite Quins being denied victory in Devon, rugby director O'Shea hailed Robshaw's performance as the Londoners secured two losing bonus points.

"I never single people out, but I thought Chris Robshaw was outstanding today," O'Shea said. "I hope people take a long, hard look at that before they start writing him off.

"He has been one of the outstanding back-row forwards in this country for many a year. He made yards today when you didn't think he could make yards, and he was turning ball over, he was tackling, he was working.

"I am gutted for us as a team, but I am incredibly proud of the performance. We are going to be in this for the long haul this season - 100 per cent - and we are going to get stronger and stronger. There is a genuine fight and drive within this group to prove a few things to themselves and to a few others."

© PA Sport

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