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Chris Robshaw's emotional goodbye after final home match at The Stoop

Chris Robshaw has penned an emotional letter after his final Harlequins appearance. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images for Harlequins)

Former England skipper Chris Robshaw has bid an emotional live TV farewell to The Stoop, the Harlequins ground where he played his last home match on Monday night for the Gallagher Premiership club before he joins MLS outfit San Diego Legion in 2021.

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Back row Robshaw has one final game to play for the London club, away to Leicester on Sunday which will be his 300th appearance for Harlequins. But the curtain fell on his time at The Stoop in dramatic fashion.

Quins were leading 20-8 when hooker Elia Elia was sent off with less than 30 minutes remaining and they were reeled in down the finishing straight by play-off chasing Wasps, losing 23-32 to spoil Robshaw’s home send off from the club he has been attached with for over a decade and a half.

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Speaking to BT Sport following the game, Robshaw said: “Of course it’s emotional, last time out here at The Stoop without the opportunity to share it with the fans and all that. Credit to the guys, we gave it all. It is what it is – it’s tough, it’s emotional. I’m sure there will be days in the future that I will look back with fond memories.

“It has been emotional. Of course in sport we don’t always get the fairy tales we dream about. You are always hopeful. Of course, the world is in a funny place. I’m sad I didn’t get to share it today with the fans who have supported me since the age of 17 at this club. But I’m sure in time I will have moment with them in the future. It’s emotional for me. You can probably hear it in my voice. Luckily I got a couple of the family in.

“It [Harlequins] has been my home, it is my home. It’s hard to put into words what it means, it’s all I have ever known and all I have ever wanted to know. I’ll lick my wounds and hopefully in a couple of years I will look back with fond memories.

“I have loved my time here. Of course, you always want to win more, you always want to be successful. But for me it’s been a hell of a ride. That’s sport, that’s international sport. You take the good times with the bad times.

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“When you play you remember the tough times more than the good times. But as time goes on you remember the good times. There has been some incredible times at this club. I have loved my time here but it goes quickly. In the blink of an eye you’re a 17-year-old kid playing out here and then whatever it is, 17 years later, 16 years later, it’s all over.

“In your body and your mind you know when the time is right and for me it feels right at the moment. It’s looking forward to having another opportunity, looking forward to having another challenge in my life, me and my wife going Stateside and enjoying a little bit of Californian sun, playing a bit of rugby and having a bit of fun. But I have loved my time here. I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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TRENDING Marcus Smith on that substitution and his England plea Marcus Smith on that substitution and his England plea
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