Robshaw believes fitness is key

England Captain Chris Robshaw says that the fitness stage of pre-season was vital for improving the squad as Stuart Lancaster’s men have now entered full-contact training this week.

The England head coach put his side through their paces for three-weeks at Pennyhill Park where the squad’s fitness levels reached a record high since going into camp at the start of July.

The England head coach put his side through their paces for three-weeks at Pennyhill Park where the squad’s fitness levels reached a record high since going into camp at the start of July.

England begin their World Cup preparations against France on August 15 at Twickenham before playing a reverse fixture in Paris a week later. Their final warm-up game sees them take on Ireland at Twickenham in early September.

Robshaw admits that before the 45-man squad flew out to Denver, Colorado, it was tough getting the fitness levels back to where they were after the Aviva Premiership season.

And now with the squad being allowed off the leash, players are likely to step-up their game as they look to impress before that opening World Cup fixture against Fiji on September 18th.

Speaking before the squad flew out to America for altitude training, Robshaw said: “This is very much a fitness stage in the pre-season.

“At the moment it is very much about getting your fitness levels back to where they were, getting yourself back in shape and pushing yourself so you are feeling even stronger.

“Pre-season is always tough - I know! But it is the same for everyone.  You have to work together as a group and improve together with the guys. You want to push each other as a team and that’s what we are doing at the moment.”

Robshaw was overlooked for England’s disastrous 2011 World Cup campaign, but in just 58 days’ time he will be leading out his team at Twickenham at a home World Cup.