Chris Robshaw on course to lead England at World Cup after stirring Cardiff display

England head coach Stuart Lancaster has all but confirmed Chris Robshaw will be his captain at the 2015 World Cup with the intervention of injury the only threat to his position.

The ringmaster of Red Rose defiance in the tunnel before Friday’s stirring 21-16 RBS 6 Nations victory over Wales has had his growing authority endorsed by Lancaster, who insists it would take a “big change of heart” to look elsewhere.

Robshaw has been entrusted with the captaincy for the duration of Lancaster’s three-year stewardship, missing just three games at the helm due to being injured for the final Test against South Africa in 2012 and rested for the 2013 tour to Argentina.