Former England captain Chris Robshaw has spoken highly of Northampton Saints' full-back George Furbank, asserting that his remaining time at Northampton is crucial not only for the team but also for his return to the England squad. Furbank, set to join Harlequins soon, has been sidelined by injuries but showed signs of his old self in recent matches, according to Robshaw.
"Getting George is massive for my old club, a huge signing," Robshaw remarked. Despite a series of injuries that made Furbank a somewhat "forgotten man" in English rugby, his performance against Castres was a reminder of his capabilities. "He’s now fit and last week against Castres looked back to his best. When he’s that good, playing at that speed, hitting the lines he hit, making the quality of decisions he did, for me he is England’s full-back," Robshaw added.
"I look at George and he’s a leader, a player who brings out the best in those around him. He’s in his prime age-wise and you know he is driven to get back in the England mix."
Despite not playing for England since November 2024 due to a series of unfortunate injuries, Furbank's recent resurgence has been timely. His performance under the Friday night lights against Castres, where he scored one try and assisted two more, not only secured Saints a spot in the Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals but also reignited discussions about his international career.
Robshaw, who will be on punditry duty for Premier Sports during the Bordeaux-Toulouse quarter-final, reflected on Furbank's importance to the team. "Watching that, I wondered how different a story last season’s final might have been had George not taken that knock to the head inside the first five minutes," he said, recalling the match where Bordeaux claimed victory but Northampton felt the sting of his early exit.
As Northampton prepares to face Bath in a crucial quarter-final match, the team's earlier performance against the same opponents provides a glimmer of hope. Despite missing key players like Furbank, Saints had previously turned a 21-14 deficit into a stunning 27-point rally. Bath, aware of the potential for a repeat, has bolstered their lineup, adding depth to avoid a second-half collapse.
Robshaw believes the underdog narrative fits Northampton: "A lot of people assume Bath will be too strong this time, both their forward pack and their overall strength in depth. I’d probably agree but that plays right into Saints’ mentality: the underdog story. You can picture them saying, ‘hear that, hear what people are saying? Let’s go there and make something happen’."
The Investec Champions Cup continues to draw attention with every match, and Premier Sports remains the hub for all the action, showcasing the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the much-anticipated finals in Bilbao.