Josh Lewsey will make an instant impact for Wasps, insists former England team-mate Jason Robinson
Jason Robinson has backed Josh Lewsey to have an instant impact for Wasps
following his former England team-mate’s shock decision to come out of
retirement on a short-term deal until the end of the season.
4:58PM GMT 24 Mar 2011
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Robinson, who came out of retirement himself last summer to sign for National
League Two North side Fylde having turned down offers from the Premiership,
however warned his former World Cup winning team-mate that he faces a tough
baptism on his return to the top flight after almost two years away from the
game.
“He is coming back into the Premiership, which is the elite and the opposition
players have had a three-quarters of the season to become well-oiled and
well-drilled, so he will have a bit of catching up to do in a short space of
time,” Robinson told Telegraph Sport.
“But if he didn’t think he could contribute, I doubt if he would have taken up
the challenge. He has reputation for being one of the best and has played in
World Cups so for him to come back if he didn’t feel like it would be a
silly move as you wouldn’t want to destroy his wonderful reputation in a
couple of months.
“The one thing about Josh, he is a highly-dedicated trainer and he will have
kept himself in great shape while he has been working doing a normal day job.
“He will know physically he is up for it and if mentally he wants that
challenge then why not.
“One of the things to come out of England’s defeat by Ireland is the
importance of experience. As long as you are physically fit, if you can add
that experience you will have a positive impact on any side.
“Josh has been there and done it and he will calm any nerves in the squad and
will give the younger players advice on day-to-day things. But it is going
to be tough for him, having been away from the game. He knows that.” Lewsey,
who has been working full-time as a management consultant at an accountancy
firm, has committed himself to Adams Park until the end of the season.
The 34-year-old has been recruited to provide cover in the back three
following an injury to winger Tom Varndell, while knocks to other players
could cause further problems.
“This isn’t a long-term thing but after playing in a couple of recent charity
games, [interim director of rugby] Leon [Holden] and [head coach] Shaun
Edwards contacted me to see if I could assist the club for the remainder of
the season,” said Lewsey.
“If they think I could positively contribute to my old club in any way – be it
on the field or around the dressing room on match days – then I’d be happy
to do so.”
Holden insists Lewsey is the ideal solution to the club’s injury problems.
“This is a fantastic short-term signing and I have no doubt Josh will make a
huge contribution to the squad in what’s left of the season,” he said.
Sale Sharks have been hit by the news that flanker Kris Chesney will not be
joining them and has decided to remain at French side Toulon instead.
Chesney, 37, had verbally agreed to join the Premiership side on a two-year
deal earlier this month.
Executive director of sport Steve Diamond said: “I was clearly told by the
agent and the player verbally that he agreed to join us. I have now been
told that the player had agreed to stay at Toulon. It’s a lack of integrity
from the player.”
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