Chris Ashton: 'There's a word in the way - equal'
Chris Ashton is determined to write his name into Gallagher Premiership history after equalling Tom Varndell’s try-scoring record in Leicester’s 22-17 victory over Exeter at Sandy Park.
Ashton crossed in each half to draw level with Varndell’s milestone of 92 touchdowns as the Tigers secured their place in the top four with a statement performance at the Devonian home of one of their title rivals.
And while Leicester cemented their place at the summit of the Premiership, it was also a memorable day for a well-travelled former England wing, who turns 35 on Tuesday intent on chasing the final try he needs to become the league’s most prolific finisher.
“There’s a word in the way – equal,” said the well-travelled Ashton, who thought his career was over until Tigers boss Steve Borthwick offered him a short-term contract in February.
“I’ve spent since the age of five wanting to score tries, so it would be nice to leave the record behind. Yes it would.
“But having spent time at home thinking that was it, I’m just grateful to be back out here playing and enjoying it.
“If the added bonus is that I do manage to go out on a high like that, I’ll be happy because that’s what I set out to do. I’m hoping that’s going to happen.
“I’m glad to get a couple of tries. This is a good team so there are always going to be opportunities if I’m doing what I normally do.
“I’m honestly at the stage of my career where I’m desperate to be involved.”
Leicester have taken another step in their transformation under Borthwick by clinching a play-off spot with four matches left to play, in the process moving one win away from a home semi-final.
Ashton played for Saracens during the early stage of their Premiership and European dominance and is reluctant to anoint the Tigers as champions in waiting just yet.
“Hard to say. The amazing thing is that not one person in the changing room is talking about anything other than Tuesday night against London Irish,” Ashton said.
“I think that’s a really good thing. We’re gaining experience all the time. To win here in the fashion we did – Exeter came back at us and we managed to hold them out. I think we’ve taken another stride forward.”
George Ford’s afternoon was ended early by an injury to his left ankle but Borthwick said the damage is not thought to be serious.
Exeter were trailing 19-0 but fought back through short-range tries by Dave Ewers and Patrick Schickerling with a Joe Simmonds penalty securing a late losing bonus point.
“It was one of those games where we weren’t good enough. We found lots of little ways to hurt ourselves and it was us doing that which allowed Leicester to capitalise,” Chiefs boss Rob Baxter said.
“What Leicester have got at the moment is that machine-like quality that we had at our best. They made the most of their opportunities and limited ours.
“We were in a fight for the play-offs before this and we are definitely in a fight now. You can’t see us being able to lose more games, but the bonus point could be very important.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Wasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to comments