James Haskell shrugs off England captaincy speculation

By Raissa Kasolowsky

LONDON (Reuters) - England flanker James Haskell has shrugged off speculation that he could be the player to lead his country into a new era and said he needs more experience before even contemplating the role.

"I've got two big battles," Haskell told Reuters in an interview. "Firstly it's getting into the Wasps team and staying there and if I am lucky enough to be involved with England again I have to make sure I've nailed down my place."

Haskell, 22, has been suggested as a possible England leader in the mould of Will Carling, who was named to lead his country in 1988 at the same age.

"If I was ever asked it would be a great honour and I would hopefully do a good job," Haskell said. "However, there's many a slip twixt cup and lip and I'm really not looking any further than Leicester this weekend."

Haskell said he was pleased just to have been a regular in the team after the disappointment of missing out on the World Cup squad last year.

"I was, bar injury interruption, able to play consistently and to hold down my place," he said.

Haskell defended coach Brian Ashton, whose position has been questioned after an inconsistent Six Nations performance by England, who finished second but still lost to grand slam champions Wales and also to Scotland in the Calcutta Cup match.

"It's more about individual players, making sure that they raise their own standards," he said. "We weren't ruthless enough at times. We let ourselves down in terms of not finishing games off and making things tighter than they were.