Joe Launchbury backed to lead England

Joe Launchbury has been touted to replace Chris Robshaw as England captain under Eddie Jones by the lock's Wasps coach Dai Young.

The appointment of Jones as Stuart Lancaster's replacement with the national team after their disappointing Rugby World Cup display has prompted speculation Robshaw will lose the captaincy.

Launchbury – who started twice during the World Cup – is an early frontrunner to lead the team going forward, the 24-year-old having impressed since making his international debut in 2012.

And Wasps coach Young believes the second row forward is the ideal man to take the team forward.

"It's a role Joe would grow into and get better at all the time until he's a natural," Young said. "He's somebody the players would get right behind.

"I think he would be a great choice and would make a great England captain."

Young sees a lot of similarities between Launchbury and Wales skipper Sam Warburton, as well as England's World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson.

He added: "Both [Launchbury and Warburton] are very sensible, don't go chasing the limelight, don't do things that will draw attention: Joe leads from the front, and doesn't speak for the sake of it.

"One of the greatest England captains, Martin Johnson, didn't speak for the sake of it. When he spoke people listened. I think Joe would be very similar."