Flanker Chris Robshaw has backed Harlequins' new forwards coach Graham Rowntree to get the best out of With promising young props Will Collier and Kyle Sinckler, writes Andrew Lawton.
The pair will be battling experienced props Joe Marler and Adam Jones for a place in the Quins front row this term - a contest that has added spice given tighthead Sinckler toured Australia with England this summer.
Sinckler has shown flashes of brilliance – including a stunning 40-metre try against London Irish last season – but with former Lions coach Rowntree’s know-how, he could develop a rugged set-piece game.
Supporting the game: Chris Robshaw was speaking at the Crabbies National Rugby Awards at Wimbledon Rugby Club last week
“Everyone is excited and hopefully he will add that strength to our set-piece that he has expertise in and really develop our forward pack,” 51-cap international Robshaw said.
“He will personally work with these guys one-on-one as units and really develop them all, hopefully that front-row unit will become very tight.
“Kyle has a huge amount of potential and having someone like Graham at the club will help him immensely.”
Conor O’Shea's exit to Italy has seen former head coach John Kingston promoted to director of rugby, with former England and British & Irish Lions coach Rowntree joining him at the Stoop.
Good season: Kyle Sinckler is developing into a major asset at Harlequins and toured with England in the summer
It is Rowntree’s first job since leaving his role with England after last year’s Rugby World Cup and he will support new head coach Mark Mapletoft and defence coach Nick Easter.
With the new Premiership season just a few weeks away flanker Chris Robshaw hopes the staff re-shuffle will breathe new life into their domestic and European campaigns.
“It was a shame to see Conor leave but with John, Graham and Nick coming in, hopefully it will bring a bit of freshness and kick us back up there,” Robshaw said, speaking at the launch of the Crabbies National Rugby Awards at Wimbledon Rugby Club.
“Last couple of years we slipped down the table and out of the Champions Cup so hopefully we can improve.
“As a player, those are the games you want to play in, you want to play against big players and big teams in the big games. That will happen every week now.
“I am very excited about the relationship with Graham, I know Wig through a lot of England stuff and having worked with him quite closely before.
“He is so excited to be back in the game and has so much energy and hopefully after the first couple of games you will see the impact he has made with us.
“You always want to be pushing for honours and win stuff, hopefully we can get in the top four and see what happens from there.”
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