Champions Cup news: Harlequins’ Chris Robshaw hoping for a few more big finals – Exclusive

When the clock is ticking, fixtures against the likes of Wasps in the Champions Cup become enormously significant. 

After opening round defeats for both, whoever loses will have the devil’s own job on to reach the knockout stages.

Having just broken back into Europe’s premier competition after two seasons looking in from the outside, such an early demise would be depressing for Quins and their long-serving flanker.

Dead rubbers are not what Robshaw wants to be about. England’s former captain has built his reputation on being the very definition of the one-club man but he no longer has time for mid-table mediocrity.

“My partner and I would love to live abroad at some point. Whether that comes in a rugby capacity or post-rugby I’m not sure yet. Never say never,” said Robshaw.

“My England objective is to get to the next World Cup and give that a good go because I feel the squad is moving in the right direction. With how it finished last time I want to have another shot at that.

“From a club point of view we’ll see. I’m very happy at Harlequins. I’ve signed a deal until 2020. It’s always been a club I’ve loved playing for. When my contracts have come up we’ve always been progressing. Unfortunately we’ve slipped down these last couple of years but I’m sure we can get back to challenging for silverware.

“I want to win stuff. When you look back at your career you have good times but you remember playing those big games in the big stadiums. Big finals – that’s why you play the game. I just want to play a couple more of them before it is time to call it a day.”

Last weekend’s home defeat against La Rochelle was compelling for the neutral but led to some serious soul-searching at The Stoop afterwards.

“We had waited a long time to be back in the main competition in Europe and to lose our first home game was disappointing to put it politely,” said Robshaw.

“They were a very good side but we didn’t defend well. To concede 35 points at home is not good enough, no matter who you are playing.

“We are scoring tries; unfortunately we’re not matching that in defence. That has been a massive let down this year. We are conceding three or four tries a game. If you want to be successful you can’t do that.”

Wasps would normally be the last side a team would want to face with a colander rearguard but their confidence is shot after five successive defeats. 

It was Quins who started the rot with a 24-21 Premiership win at the Ricoh Arena in the ‘watergate’ game.

James Haskell was sin-binned for strangling Joe Marler after being squirted in the face with a water bottle in an incident which encapsulated how successfully Quins got under Wasps’ skin.

“In the heat of the moment it didn’t go down too well – it escalated a little bit – but afterwards they were good friends again,” said Robshaw.

“I don’t think getting the water boys on is going to be the game plan this weekend but we have to front up first and foremost because if they are allowed to attack they are going to hurt us. It’s a massive game for us and for them.”

The England squad for the autumn Tests is named on Thursday and Robshaw, as ever, is under pressure from more eye-catching players. This time it is Courtney Lawes who is being talked about as an explosive alternative at No 6.

Left out of the Lions squad but outstanding with England in Argentina, the selfless workaholic Eddie Jones calls his “glue player” has heard it all before. 

“It never really comes down to one game; it’s about your form throughout this whole part of the season. You need to play well every week, not just in a big game that’s on TV, and help your team. Then hopefully you’ve done enough to earn your place,” said Robshaw.