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'He could win 100 caps - he's f***ing talented': Ewan Ashman by those who know him

By Jamie Lyall
XV_NOV_Ewan-Ashman-1-min

Neil Briggs remembers the day a strapping teenage front-row fetched up for his first training session at Sale Sharks academy.

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Ewan Ashman was unknown back then, to Sale’s coaches as much as the Scotland fans who erupted when his glorious debut try helped scalp the Wallabies on Sunday.

The hooker had been invited along to Carrington for what was, in effect, a trial. Sale had scant information on the kid, merely the fervent words from a team-mate that Ashman had serious potential.

“This big thing walks in – athletic, bigger than the other lads,” Briggs, the academy transition coach and a former hooker himself, recalls. “He had really quick foot speed with no knee-lift. He ran really good lines. He was tough. He was diligent. He was too good not to sign.”

Alan Tait would soon experience a similar lightbulb moment. A dual-code international, Lion and Five Nations champion, Tait was working as Scottish Rugby’s scout, charged with scouring the north of England for eligible youngsters.

Gregor walked past me, tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘I like the hooker’. I gave him a wink and a nod.

He parked up at an academy fixture, and was struck by the muscular specimen laying waste for the Sharks side.

“When I first watched him, I was like, ‘this kid is bloody good, let’s go’.

“When I’m looking at a player, I’m not looking at his line-out throw – that’s a skill, that can get better. He’s 17, if he loses a line-out, so what? But his physique, footwork, balance… he’s a player for the future.

“The way he moved, the way he carried, I knew he had in his armoury the tools to go all the way.”

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Ashman soared onto the Test stage and the front pages with his outrageous score against Australia. The aerial, two-handed finish into Murrayfield’s northwest corner, keeping his legs poised above the touchline while slamming the ball down, was a mark of athletic ruthlessness. Cheslin Kolbe, Will Jordan, or Jonny May – any of the game’s top wingers – would have been proud of such a try, never mind a 21-year-old hooker winning his first cap off the bench.

“I think I’m just a winger in a fat person’s body,” quipped Ashman post-match. “I was thinking of doing a rugby league one-hander but I thought I could sneak in with two hands so better safe than sorry.”

To those invested in his growth, Ashman always stood apart from the crowd. Gregor Townsend, the Scotland coach, has long been eyeing his progress eagerly.

Ewan Ashman
Ashman’s stunning try helped Scotland beat Australia for the third time in a row (Photo by Paul Devlin/SNS Group via Getty Images)
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“He came up to play for Scotland Under-18s in a bounce game against Australia at the Oriam,” says Tait. “He stuck out, and he’d only just met his team-mates. He hadn’t been in a Scottish academy playing in the system.

“Gregor walked past me, tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘I like the hooker’. I gave him a wink and a nod. He knew we had a talent there.”

When he scored seven tries at the 2019 Junior World Championship, others began paying closer attention to Ashman’s burgeoning excellence.

“People started taking notice then, but we’d seen (his ability) the whole time,” says Briggs.

“I remember when he made his first-team debut. First thing he did, he got the ball, made a break down the wing and sat two blokes down. I thought, ‘bloody hell, that’s brilliant’. Give young a lad a chance and he does that. He just grows, especially in the coaches’ minds.

“He’s always been in the Scotland pathway and we’ve never thought of stepping in or denying him that opportunity. We want people to play for their country.”

Indeed, born in Toronto and raised in Manchester, Ashman has always yearned to wear thistle, not rose, a belonging instilled in him by father, Jonathan, a fiercely passionate Edinburgh man.

He’s got a contract with Sale but he’s got to look at his future. Edinburgh are getting towards veteran stage with their hookers. He may see himself playing for Edinburgh or Glasgow.

Matt Proudfoot, the England forwards coach and a former Scotland prop, was sent north to Sale to test the waters. It would prove a short conversation.

“I listened to what they had to say but it was never a decision for me as I’m Scottish,” Ashman told the Sunday Times in September. “I told Gregor he had nothing to worry about and I’d be at the next camp.”

Ask Briggs about what makes Ashman such a prospect, and the word “relentless” pops up. The hooker is built like a New York fire hydrant, slabs of hard-earned muscle belying his tender years. Set-piece acumen has been equally tough to acquire.

“What I see is his desire, hunger and commitment to get better,” says Briggs. “Physically, in the gym with his extras, you see the size of him and the work he does to get himself in that nick has been brilliant.

“On the field, I’ve thrown with him nearly every other day over the past few years. That didn’t come as naturally to him as the other stuff and he’s well aware of that.

“He has not let things fluster him; he has a clear mindset. Yes, he hasn’t played as much as he possibly wanted to, but the competition and training, the lads he’s having to compete with, is testing him, challenging him. He’s able to go into the Scotland environment, not be overwhelmed, be ready for it and come on and excel.”

There is, though, no escaping the fact Ashman is the youngest of Sale’s four senior hookers, and lowest on the totem pole. Akker van der Merwe – the Springbok elder brother of Duhan – Curtis Langdon and Tommy Taylor all have more experience and more seniority, and have restricted Ashman to a couple of bench appearances this season.

Sale Sharks Akker Van Der Merwe
Akker van der Merwe heads up a posse of high-calibre hookers at Sale Sharks (Photo by PA)

The Scot needs top-level game time to become a regular international. And there have been murmurs recently about a move north which could provide those minutes.

“He’s got a contract with Sale but he’s got to look at his future,” says Tait. “Edinburgh are getting towards veteran stage with their hookers. He may see himself playing for Edinburgh or Glasgow.

“He’s third- or fourth-choice for Sale, so he’s got to get himself playing more for them.”

In keeping with Sale’s policy at the time, Ashman signed a long-term deal when joining the academy. He has at least one season after this remaining on his deal, and the Sharks see him as part of their long-term vision.

Ewan has got the potential to win 100 caps for Scotland. Easily. He’s got that mindset, that drive, that desire. And he’s f***ing talented. Sorry for swearing, but he is so talented.

Neil Briggs, Sale Sharks

“We’ve got no plans to let him go anywhere,” says Briggs. “We hope he’s going to be a hundred-capper for us.”

And there is a tantalising opportunity for Ashman to make the Scotland jersey his own in years to come. He is 11 years younger than Fraser Brown, a decade Stuart McInally’s junior, and even George Turner, whom he replaced early on Sunday, is now 29.

“Ewan has got the potential to win 100 caps for Scotland. Easily,” enthuses Briggs. “He’s got that mindset, that drive, that desire. And he’s f***ing talented. Sorry for swearing, but he is so talented.

“And they’ve probably not seen everything that we’ve seen here. His ball-carrying, he is a dynamic, destructive ball-carrier and he can whack in defence as well.”

“We used to talk, as scouts, about the Scottish type of player,” says Tait. “It might sound daft, but sometimes you see a player who suits the Scottish way of playing. We have our own identity. I used to look for players who properly fit that. He’s that kind of hooker.

“I can only see him getting better. He’ll gain confidence from the Scotland exposure. He’s done it all – I’m excited about his future.”

In the here and now, the challenges keep coming, the juggernaut sides keep rolling into Edinburgh, and Ashman keeps his place in the 23. He will be on the bench again this Saturday as the behemoth Springboks arrive at Murrayfield. Another level up, another mighty test, and another step on this exhilarating journey.

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john 44 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

14 Go to comments
A
Adrian 2 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

14 Go to comments
T
Trevor 5 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 9 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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